Journal
FISHERIES RESEARCH
Volume 80, Issue 2-3, Pages 305-311Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.fishres.2006.03.024
Keywords
Margaritifera; pearl fishing; populations; conservation
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Estimates of mortality, based on relative numbers of live mussels and empty shells observed were obtained for a sample of seven exploited Scottish freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) populations. Total mortality (Z) estimates ranged from 0.058 to 0.189 year(-1) and fishing mortality (F) estimates ranged from 0.005 to 0.129 year(-1). General trends of increasing Z and F with age were apparent. Pearl fishers generally targeted larger, older mussels. In one heavily exploited population, the Z and F estimates converged, indicating that most of the mortality in older mussels (> 50 years) was due to the effects of destructive pearl fishing. Since a complete ban on pearl fishing was introduced in 1998, illegal pearl fishing has continued albeit at a reduced level. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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