Beach strandings of Tehuelche scallop, Aequipecten tehuelchus, in Patagonia: Multi-scale processes and management implications

SORIA, GASPAR; PISONI, JUAN P.; FRUMENTO, OSCAR; GETINO MAMET, LEANDRO NICOLÁS; PARMA, ANA M.

MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Año: 2022 vol. 176

0141-1136

The magnitude and causal mechanisms of a massive beach stranding of Tehuelche scallops that occurred in November 2017 in San Jos´e Gulf, Argentina, were investigated with the long-term goal of improving the assessment and management of the scallop fishery. The biomass of scallops washed ashore and deposited over a 10-km stretch of coast was estimated by quadrat sampling and compared with the results of a scallop stock assessment survey conducted three months prior to the stranding event. The resulting estimate of total biomass loss was in the order of 200 t, representing 10% of the estimated total scallop biomass in the San Jos´e gulf. The stranding coincided with persistent strong southerly winds (13 m/s) blowing for 24 h in San Jos´e Gulf, and large scale wind storms that affected the southern tip of South America. Surface waves predicted under such windstorm conditions could generate strong bottom orbital velocities at shallow waters (