Bivalve mollusk that inhabits salty waters found under the soft seabed of the coasts of fine or muddy sand.

Andalusia reopens venus clam fishing ground on October 1

SPAIN
Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 22:00 (GMT + 9)

On October 1 the venus clam (Chamelea gallina) fishing ground in the Gulf of Cadiz will be reopened, after confirming the scientific reports issued by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) on the improvement of the shellfish activity opportunities in the area.

On making this announcement, Undersecretary of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development of Andalusia Rodrigo Sanchez Haro said that this measure "is taken in support of families depending on this fishery, so they have a minimum income," but he recalled that from now on "they will have to match the activity with the improvement of the fishing ground".

Sánchez Haro said that "this opening will be accompanied by its corresponding follow-up and control planning to guarantee the conservation and survival of the resource and for strict compliance by the sector."

The undersecretary insisted on the need for the entire sector to be aware of, and appealed to "a responsibility that belongs to everyone."
In this way, the Undersecretariat meets its commitment, which was to reopen as soon as the technical reports confirmed that the fishing activity was feasible without endangering the future of the fishing ground.

Photo: Luis Silva Caparro, R & D Technician | Spanish Institute of Oceanography | Oceanographic Center of Cádiz, Spain

The capture of the venus clam was prohibited last January when it was verified that the biomass was reaching minimum levels compromising the survival of the species. From that moment, it was established that the situation would be maintained until there were guarantees that the activity was viable combining the environmental, economic and social interests.

To help alleviate the effects of the closure of the fishing ground, the Undersecretary of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development launched some aid for affected shipowners and crew, based in the ports of Isla Cristina, Punta Umbría and Ayamonte, in the province of Huelva, and Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cadiz). This has allowed economic support to 70 families during this period.

Photo: Luis Silva Caparro, R & D Technician | Spanish Institute of Oceanography | Oceanographic Center of Cádiz, Spain

The undersecretary also stressed that the Board has maintained a permanent dialogue with all representatives of the sector, consolidated with the constitution of a working table and two technical groups to improve the fishery of this species, having already held several meetings.

The venus clam is a bivalve mollusk living in the soft bottom of the entire coastline of Huelva from the first metre to 15 or 20 m deep. Therefore, it is a species that is exposed to the changes that occur in this narrow coastal strip of the coast, mainly as a consequence of meteorological and oceanographic factors, in addition to those that come from the fluvial contributions of rivers.

On the other hand, it must be noted that the species has a short life and rapid growth and its population depends to a great extent on the success of the recruitment.

editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

Print