Since the beginning of the century, scallop fisheries in France have known successive phases of expansion and recession. Although a system of fishing licences has been implemented, the number of fishermen involved in the scallop fishery has increased and huge investments have been made. The important fishing effortduring this period has induced a serions stock depletion, and output has dropped to less than 2 000 m.t. per year since 1986. Hence, the remunerations of capital and labour have dramatically decreased. As early as 1973, attempts have been made to use aquaculture methods for the management of thisstock, following the successful Japanese model. Because of insufficient amounts of spat available from the wild, hatchery and nursery techniques have... |