The commercial fishery for wedge clam, or telline (Donax trunculus) in the bay of Douarnenez in France started in the early 1980ies. During twenty years, the activity has developed, from an opportunistic fishery, into a regular fishing enterprise for 36 fishermen, who derive from it most, if not all, of their revenue. The fishery is nowadays strictly regulated. It is subject to natural variations in the productivity of clam stocks, in relation with meteorological conditions which can strongly affect the stocks. The bay of Douarnenez has been experiencing regular blooms of harmful algae, both of species leading to shellfish poisoning for human consumption, such as Dinophysis (Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning) and Pseudo-nitzschia (Amnesic Shellfish... |