Development of a New Conservation Approach for Farmed Sea Scallops Kept in Seawater in Live Wells to Foster the Sale of Princess Scallops on New Markets

Summary:
The purpose of this project was to determine an adequate protocol that would serve to keep scallops alive in a closed-circuit live well, in either natural or artificial seawater, and to determine the product’s shelf life and evolution in quality. This study was divided into two phases. For Phase 1, the scallops were placed in three different experimental conditions (closed circuit, closed circuit with seawater, and closed circuit with salt-enriched water). Three size categories were used to determine whether there was a difference in the response to containment in terms of scallop size. For each trial, the following analyses were conducted: measurement of vitality, condition index and glycogen concentration in the muscle, and a sensory analysis (appearance, odour, texture, taste). For Phase 2, the scallops were shipped by plane on a round-trip flight lasting several hours (Blanc-Sablon/Sept-Îles round trip) before being put into containment in closed-circuit live wells (only two experimental conditions). For the first year of the tests, the category 1 scallops suffered greater mortality than the others. In contrast, during the second year, size category did not appear to truly influence scallop containment in live wells. The lowest mortality rates occurred in the “open-circuit” and “closed-circuit, water + salts” experimental conditions. As for the time of year, it appears that the months of October and November are conducive to the successful containment of scallops. In fact, by that time, spawning has already taken place and the ambient temperature is close to the scallops’ preferendum, which limits emersion-related stress. The condition of the scallops was very markedly different on the first day and the fourteenth day of the trial. In fact, the scallops were in significantly poorer condition by the end of the trial. The crucial point appeared to occur at around the seventh day of containment. However, sensory tests did not show a particular difference in terms of the scallops’ commercial qualities. According to both the trained panel and the untrained panel, there appeared to be no significant difference in terms of trial day, experimental condition or time of year.

Recipient: Société de développement de l’industrie maricole (SODIM)

Total Project Cost: $159,646

DFO-AIMAP Contribution: $49,062

Other Financial Support:

• Recipient : Société de développement de l’industrie maricole (in French only) (SODIM)
• Industry : Centre aquacole de la Côte-Nord (CACN)
• Provincial Government : Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec - Centre Technologique des Produits Aquatiques(in French only) (CTPA)

For more information please contact the regional coordinator
Quebec Region: Pierre.Lauzier@dfo-mpo.gc.ca