Distribution, abundance, population structure and meat yield of the ocean quahog, Arctica islandica , in icelandic waters

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
• Main Authors: Thórarinsdóttir, Gudrún G., Einarsson, Sólmundur T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1996
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Arctica islandica; Iceland; Ocean quahog
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315400040996; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315400040996

A hydraulic dredge survey was conducted during January – June 1994 in north-west, north and east Iceland, to provide a first assessment of ocean quahog, Arctica islandica (Mollusca: Pelecypoda) resources in these areas. Ocean quahog was found in significant concentrations and high density. The combined high-density areas were 91.7 km 2 with a minimum biomass (live weight) of 304.80 tonnes. Information on population structure and meat yield were also provided. The population in the areas was characterized by unimodal size distributions comprised of mostly larger-sized individuals. Most quahogs were between 70 and 90 mm with no individuals <17 mm which might be due to the selectivity of the dredge or because of poor recruitment in the population. Little difference was observed when comparing the mean shell length for the quahogs from the three areas. The mean shell length in the north-west area was 75.4 mm and 74.8 mm in the north and east areas. The shell length frequency distribution for the north-west area was different in shape from the two others which were not significantly different from each other. Mean quahog meat yields in the areas were from 30.1 to 33%. The meat yield was highest in the 50.55 mm size class in all areas.