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Population structure, age and growth of Callista chione (Bivalvia: Veneridae) in Martil Coast of the western Mediterranean

2021; Elsevier BV; Volume: 48; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.rsma.2021.101996

2352-4855

Hajar Bouzaidi, Mustapha Maâtouk, Bouchta El Moumni, Ouassima Haroufi, Mahmoud A. Saber, Esraa E. AbouElmaaty, Mouna Daoudi,

Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior

The smooth clam Callista chione is distributed in Moroccan Mediterranean coasts in considerable densities. This study examines the population structure, age, growth, mortality, longevity and exploitation level of the smooth clam on Martil coast. Samples were collected monthly from July 2016 to July 2017. Morphometric relationships were studied and showed negative allometric growth for the width/length, height/length and weight/length relationships. Four age groups were determined by Bhattacharya’s method. Growth parameters were estimated from the Ford–Walford method to be L∞=103.1 mm, K=0.38 yr −1 and t0=0.43. Growth performance indices were found as ϕ ′ = 3.60 and P=5.61. Total mortality, natural mortality and fishing mortality were estimated to be Z=2.64 yr−1, M=0.55 yr−1 and F=2.09 yr−1 respectively. The exploitation rate was calculated to be E = 0.79 proving an overexploitation of the species. The longevity was estimated to be 8 years. Results present necessary biological parameters to ensure the conservation, management and sustainable exploitation of Callista chione in Morocco.