Study of seasonal settlements of five scallop species in the western Mediterranean

Scallop settlements were examined over a 16 month period using collectors placed in the sea at 28 day intervals near Torre la Sal Beach, Castellón, Eastern Spain in the western Mediterranean. Collectors were set over depths of 20 m and five species, Flexopecten flexuosus, Chlamys varia, Aequipecten opercularis, Pecten jacobaeus and Palliolum incomparabile, were collected. The most frequent species, F. flexuosus, had peak settlements in August 1992 and in July 1993. C. varia had peaks in April and July 1992 and in June 1993. Both of these species settled throughout the year, except in winter. A. opercularis settled predominantly from February to June and in October, but with a few settlements during the rest of the year. Pecten jacobaeus had a small peak in February and another peak from April to July. P. incomparabile spat were rare. Settlements were studied in relation to chlorophyll a, suspended particulate and sea temperature data in the area of study.