Gulf of Lions wedge clam dredge

 Overview

	SPECIES Clam, Donax trunculus
	FISHING GEAR Hand dredge

 

VOLUME OF LANDINGS :  78.1 tons in 2014

 

FISHING FLEET : 115 licensed shore fishers in Occitanie and 77 in PACA in 2015

 

LANDINGS PORTS : Port-Vendres (PV), Sète (ST), Martigues (MT)

 

Fishery

Clam collection is a coastal fishing activity using small, light dredges that are towed by hand while walking backwards. The dredge consists of a metal frame fitted with teeth to scrape soft substrates, a grate for sediment movement and a holding bag to retain the clams. One trip takes approximately four hours.

The fishery operates in the Gulf of Lions, along the sandy coasts of Languedoc-Roussillon and PACA.

Clam fishing is conducted year-round, except for some closed periods.

Pre-assessment results

Results of the MSC pre-assessment, conducted using the precautionary principle (bar filled = benchmark achieved). Only some of the data is presented here. For a full listing of the results, please visit the Medfish website.

 

STRENGTHS	POINTS FOR IMPROVEMENT
Selective gear with low impact on threatened, endangered and protected species, benthic habitats and ecosystems Regulations in place to limit fishing activities (licenses, minimum legal size)	Stock biomass monitoring required Build knowledge about status of stocks Harvest control rules to be defined Information about landings required No specific management plan in place

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