Hatchery culture potential of the scallop Chlamys australis in Western Australia

Adult scallops (Chlamys australis) were obtained from a scallop trawler operating in Shark Bay, Western Australia, and maintained in a 6000-l pool using raw seawater. Processed adult scallops, from the bay, averaged 20.6 g meat weight (16.9% of live weight), a figure comparable with yields from commercially fished scallops of other species. Adults were induced to spawn by the addition of sperm and a water temperature increase. 12.55 million eggs were produced from four females. 76.25% of the larvae developing from these fertilized eggs were reared to metamorphosis after 12 days. Approximately 2.4 million spat resulted at the completion of the metamorphosis/settlement stage. The meat content of adult C.az&ralis and the success of hatchery spat production both indicate a potential for commercial culture of this scallop species.