As part of a new SCCF initiative with FWRI, we now have numerous volunteers with docks, each deploying one or more cages with 25 juvenile scallops to assess their survival and growth through time. Volunteers have data sheets they fill out every week or so and send data to the lab for analysis. Every week or so the cage is raised, opened, and all remaining live scallops are counted and measured. Since bay scallops typically live for only one year and grow over 1 mm a day, they will be spawning by May, and will die by June. Volunteers also clean cages removing fouling organisms (barnacles, oysters, tunicates, algae, sponges). If all goes well, you will see their offspring in a seagrass bed near you by the summer of 2009!

This project serves multiple purposes: (1) it lets us know where scallops can survive in and around Sanibel, Captiva and Pine Island Sound. A lack of adults can result from many causes, and most importantly we need to know if certain areas would be more appropriate for targeted restoration efforts; (2) as we receive scallop growth rate data from volunteers we can better understanding how a year-round growing season here in south Florida impacts bay scallops, a species adapted to more northern areas of the U.S.; and (3) by enhancing adult scallop populations, we can create a local larval supply. Each scallop can produce as many as one million eggs or more, and having several scallops in the close proximity within a cage will improve successful reproduction. Cages also protect scallops from predators such as blue crabs, stone crabs, and stingrays.

If you would be interested in participating, please give the Marine Lab a call at (239) 395-4617.

Right: One of the scallop volunteers
checks on his scallops.