Research Document 1997/101
Biologie et exploitation de la mactre de Stimpson (Mactromeris polynyma) sur les côtes du Québec
By J. Lambert and P. Goudreau
Abstract
Stimpson's surf clam (Mactromeris polynyma) has been exploited in Québec since the beginning of the 1990s. Thirteen fishers had access to the resource in 1996 and the total allowable catch was set at 903 tons. Landings have fluctuated greatly and the highest catch was recorded in 1994 at 639 tons. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) has remained high since 1993 on the main exploited beds. Twelve surf clam beds are fished so far and their areas vary from 2.5 to more than 30 km². The mean density of clams on these beds is generally between 2 and 4 clams/m² . The mean size of commercially caught clams has remained high since the beginning of the fishery and varies between the beds from 93 to 117 mm. During scientific sampling using a lined hydraulic dredge, 8 to 22 % of the clams caught were prerecruits smaller than 50 mm. On the North Shore of Québec, growth to 80 mm takes from 11 to 14 years. Reproduction in clams occurs mainly at 62 mm or larger. The sex ratio of clams larger than 80 mm shows a clear predominance of females.
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