Reproductive Cycle, Size at Maturity, and Sexual Composition of Commercially Harvested Weathervane Scallops ( Patinopecten caurinus ) in Alaska

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Author: Hennick, Daniel P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1970
• Subjects: General Medicine; Kodiak; Yakutat; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f70-239; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f70-239

Findings of this study indicated that scallops spawn in the summer, primarily during early June, and also through mid-July. Spawning is complete, and only one annual spawning occurs. Sexual composition of mature scallops appeared as a 50:50 ratio. Most scallops were mature when three or more concentric rings (annual rings) were present on the upper valve and all after four or more were present. Scallops off Yakutat grow slower and are smaller at maturity than scallops off Kodiak Island. Growth and size differences did not seem directly related to time of maturity.