Evaluation of different shallow water culture methods for the scallop Nodipecten subnodosus using biologic and economic modeling

Abstract

The desire to develop sustainable small-scale aquaculture on the Baja California peninsula has focused attention toward the native scallop Nodipecten (Lyropecten) subnodosus, a species characterized by rapid growth, large size and high domestic market price. The cool upwelling waters around Bahía Magdalena seem to provide suitable conditions for N. subnodosus culture, yet cheaper, less technically demanding methods of culture are desired to add to the practicality of development for local resource users. Culturing in the shallow 'esteros' (reverse-estuaries) rather than in the central section of the bay may provide such an alternative. Between September 2002 and April 2003, three grow-out culture methods (suspended module, bottom and off-bottom culture) were compared at two different densities (40% and 60% coverage) in terms of scallop growth, mortality and associated costs, in order to create a predictive model of monetary returns. Scallops exhibited retarded growth and increased mortality during the warm, oxygen-poor water conditions of late summer (August-September), which coincided with increased reproductive activity (Gonad Index) and lowered energy reserves (Adductor Muscle Index). Growth performance was best during a period of lower temperature in late December 2002 to early January 2003. Of the six treatments, 40% density off-bottom culture provided the best grow-out conditions in terms of average growth and mortality (K year = 0.51, Z year = 0.29). However, a simulation of a 10-year culture operation accounting for the addition of a new batch of seed each year (100,000 ind.·year − 1 ) shows 60% density off-bottom culture (K year = 0.44, Z year = 0.37) to be the most profitable (net present value = US$28,631, internal rate of return = 27.0%). A 6-year period is predicted before the culture is profitable. The model proved valuable in comparing profitability between culture methods and is relevant as a tool for investment decisions in other culture operations.

Simulation model of the scallop (Argopecten purpuratus) farming in northern Chile: some applications in the decision making process

“…Prices were the main factor driving NPV from the economic parameters, which is consistent with other experiences for similar models (Pelot & Zwicker, 2006;Taylor et al, 2006). The actual effect of price variation varied between cases, where its effect was greater when poor growth parameters were entered into the model.…”

“…The software Stella® has also been used several times to simulate other aquaculture systems for shellfish as the experience of Hawkins et al (2002), who developed a simulation model for Chlamys farreri under aquaculture conditions in China, or the evaluation of different shallow culture methods using a bioeconomic model for Nodipecten subdonosus by Taylor et al (2006), andGrant (2000) who uses simulation through Stella® to describe the growth behavior of scallops, specifically for Patinopecten caurimus.…”

Comparative growth and mortality of cultured Lion's Paw scallops (Nodipecten subnodosus) from Gulf of California and Pacific populations and their reciprocal transplants

“…The Lion's Paw has a high aquaculture potential due to its fast growth and a high market demand for its large adductor muscle (Racotta, Ramirez, Ibarra, Rodríguez‐Jaramillo, Carreño & Palacios ; Koch, Mázon‐Suastegui, Robles & Dunn ; Taylor, Koch, Wolff & Sínsel ), and hatchery methods have been developed for massive spat production (Mazón‐Suástegui, Maeda‐Martínez, Robles‐Mungaray, De La Roche, Rupp, Mendes‐De‐Bem, Velasco & Freites‐Valbuena ). The species has been cultivated at experimental and pilot levels along both coasts of the Baja California peninsula (Freites, Mazon‐Suástegui, Maeda‐Martínez, Koch, Osuna‐García, Ruiz, García‐Domínguez, De La Roche, Manzoni, Rupp & Lodeiros ), mostly in bays and lagoons on the Pacific coast.…”

“…Several culture methods have been used, including suspended (Barrios, Chávez & Cáceres ; Morales‐Hernández & Cáceres‐Martínez ; Osuna‐García ; Taylor et al . ; Villalejo‐Fuerte, Arellano‐Martínez, Robles‐Mungaray & Ceballos‐Vázquez), bottom (Maldonado‐Amparo, Ramírez, Ávila & Ibarra ; Quintero‐Ojeda ; Racotta et al . ; Taylor et al .…”

Modelo explicativo de la rentabilidad de las empresas de piscicultura marina. Aplicación empírica a la cría de dorada (Sparus aurata) y lubina (Dicentrarchus labrax) en España

“…La revisión de la literatura científica sobre piscicultura ha permitido identificar un importante número de trabajos que utilizan la rentabilidad de la actividad como indicador del efecto económico del factor analizado, entre los que cabe destacar los que la utilizan para analizar: el rendimiento económico de diferentes tipos de alimentación (Urban Jr. y Pruder, 1991;Moñino et al, 2002;Sánchez Lozano et al, 2007;Petersen et al, 2011), la viabilidad económica de la explotación comercial de una especie o producto (Oca et al, 2002;Jeffs y Hooker, 2000;Keys et al, 2004;PootLópez y Gasca-Leyva, 2009;Shamshak y Anderson, 2009;García y García, 2010;Zúñiga, 2010), y el impacto que tienen las condiciones ambientales (Hatch et al, 1998;León et al, 2006;Hernández et al, 2007), el sistema de producción (Losordo y Westerman, 1994;Thongrak et al, 1997;Goode et al, 2002;Lever et al, 2004;Taylor et al, 2006;Liu;Sumaila, 2007y Buck et al, 2010 o la localización de la explotación (Moksness et al, 1998;Gasca-Leyva et al, 2002;Irz y McKenzie, 2003;Bozoglu y Ceyhan, 2009;Miao et al, 2009;Petersen y Phuong, 2010;Huang et al, 2011) sobre el resultado económico del proceso de cultivo.…”