with this species, and this could have been due to overexploitation or to the changes
in the environmental conditions of the bottom. The culture of this species is,
therefore, interesting with respect to both supply markets and the repopulation of
natural banks.
In the collectors anchored in Fuengirola for the capture of pectinid seed, in
addition to king scallop seed, a large quantity of banded carpet shell seed has been
collected. It has been proven that this seed grows quite well in the systems which are
used for these pectinids.
The removal of the collectors has revealed that the maximum fixation of seed has
occurred in the collectors which are set in the months of December, January, and
February, with this fixation decreasing in the following months. It has been observed
that the most suitable collector to capture this type of seed is a monofilament sack,
which captures approximately 80% of the seed set.
Following detachment, the seeds are grown in bags and baskets (Fig. 20.10). The
growth of the banded carpet shell is not constant throughout the year, and it almost
ceases in the summer months. Mortality is relatively low in all cases. The highest
mortality detected was 5%, and this was associated with fattening in collector bags at
high densities of culture. In most of the culture lines, mortality has been zero (López
et al. 2005a, b).
Current State and Overview
There has been a significant development in mussel farming in the Alboran Sea in
recent years. Mussel production in Andalusia exceeded 2200 t in 2015, but then it
decreased as much as 900 t (657 t in the Alboran Sea) in 2017, due to the numerous
episodes of biotoxins and heavy storms which damaged the facilities. In that year,
the Association of Mollusk Producers in Andalusia (Spanish acronym is APROMO),
constituted by a score of companies from the provinces of Huelva, Cadiz, Malaga,
and Granada, was created. Currently, the main production takes place in the province
of Malaga, and the total mussel production in 2018 increased to 968 t in Andalusia
(785 Tm in the Alboran Sea). Most of this production is destined for direct consumption, and it could be improved if mollusk purification plants were available,
which would allow the supply to be controlled.
The case for pectinids is very different from the case for mussels. Several
companies have installed longlines for the culture of scallops in Marbella and
Estepona, and they have obtained good results both in terms of seed collection and
growth rates but also with problems due to biotoxin, mainly for king scallop. In spite
of several companies that have licenses to culture scallops, the production is
practically zero.
Regarding prospects, the production of bivalve mollusks in the Alboran Sea can
be increased by the implementation of new projects for mussel farming in the
provinces of Malaga and Cadiz. These projects are subsidized by the Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development of the Directorate of Andalusia
through funds from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund for the period of
676
A. Ortega et al.
in the environmental conditions of the bottom. The culture of this species is,
therefore, interesting with respect to both supply markets and the repopulation of
natural banks.
In the collectors anchored in Fuengirola for the capture of pectinid seed, in
addition to king scallop seed, a large quantity of banded carpet shell seed has been
collected. It has been proven that this seed grows quite well in the systems which are
used for these pectinids.
The removal of the collectors has revealed that the maximum fixation of seed has
occurred in the collectors which are set in the months of December, January, and
February, with this fixation decreasing in the following months. It has been observed
that the most suitable collector to capture this type of seed is a monofilament sack,
which captures approximately 80% of the seed set.
Following detachment, the seeds are grown in bags and baskets (Fig. 20.10). The
growth of the banded carpet shell is not constant throughout the year, and it almost
ceases in the summer months. Mortality is relatively low in all cases. The highest
mortality detected was 5%, and this was associated with fattening in collector bags at
high densities of culture. In most of the culture lines, mortality has been zero (López
et al. 2005a, b).
Current State and Overview
There has been a significant development in mussel farming in the Alboran Sea in
recent years. Mussel production in Andalusia exceeded 2200 t in 2015, but then it
decreased as much as 900 t (657 t in the Alboran Sea) in 2017, due to the numerous
episodes of biotoxins and heavy storms which damaged the facilities. In that year,
the Association of Mollusk Producers in Andalusia (Spanish acronym is APROMO),
constituted by a score of companies from the provinces of Huelva, Cadiz, Malaga,
and Granada, was created. Currently, the main production takes place in the province
of Malaga, and the total mussel production in 2018 increased to 968 t in Andalusia
(785 Tm in the Alboran Sea). Most of this production is destined for direct consumption, and it could be improved if mollusk purification plants were available,
which would allow the supply to be controlled.
The case for pectinids is very different from the case for mussels. Several
companies have installed longlines for the culture of scallops in Marbella and
Estepona, and they have obtained good results both in terms of seed collection and
growth rates but also with problems due to biotoxin, mainly for king scallop. In spite
of several companies that have licenses to culture scallops, the production is
practically zero.
Regarding prospects, the production of bivalve mollusks in the Alboran Sea can
be increased by the implementation of new projects for mussel farming in the
provinces of Malaga and Cadiz. These projects are subsidized by the Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development of the Directorate of Andalusia
through funds from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund for the period of
676
A. Ortega et al.