Ostiones Tropicales De La Costa Pacifica

SCALLOP CULTURE IN BERMUDA: A MODEL FOR THE LESSER ANTILLES? by Samia Sarkis-Hillier Aquaculture Program Bermuda Biological Station for Research 17 Biological lane Ferry Reach, GEO1 Bermuda
Tel: +1441-2971880 Ext.255 Fax: +1441-2978143 Email: ssarkis@bbsr.edu

INTRODUCTION The development of aquaculture in Bermuda has been investigated at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research (BBSR)since 1987. BBSR is a Not for Profit Organization incorporated in the U.S., and obtains its funding from various sources. Aquaculture is an unprecedented activity in Bermuda; although, there is a long standing tradition of fishing, and of fish consumption by locals, there has never been any history of rearing marine organisms. In the past, Bermuda boasted plentiful populations of fish and shellfish.This is no longer the case for various reasons; hence aquaculture has been recently considered as a tool for both enhancing the natural populations and providing a reliable source of seafood product for local consumption. The Bermudas are an isolated group of oceanic islands situated in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean (32°N and 64°W), surrounded by the Sargasso Sea. Despite its northern latitude, thepresence of the Gulf Stream entrains a marine fauna and flora, which is very similar to that of the Caribbean. The entire 35km Long Island consists of seven major islands which are linked by bridges; this results in several semi-enclosed bodies of saltwater, referred to as inshore waters. There is no freshwater source in Bermuda. In the 1970’s, residents and scientists alike observed the dramaticdecline of several populations of finfish and shellfish in the inshore waters, generating a growing interest in the utilisation of aquaculture as a means of restoring the natural resources. As a first step to evaluate the feasibility of this type of activity into Bermuda, a workshop was hosted in 1983 at BBSR, with experts from the U.SS. and Caribbean region This paper will provide a briefbackground on the evolution of aquaculture in Bermuda, a synopsis of the culture method practised, and the current status of the program and conclude with the existing opportunities for the replication of this system in the Lesser Antilles Results of Aquaculture Workshop, 1983 The 1983 Bermuda workshop conclusions favoured aquaculture in Bermuda, encouraging the focus on native and/or endemic species,and outlined some of the main advantages and disadvantages in conducting aquaculture activity in Bermuda.

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The disadvantages were as follows:
• Little was known on the biology, growth requirements, and survival rates of

potential culture candidate occurring in Bermuda’s inshore waters; no basic data was available necessary for the culture techniques for the production of juvenilesand adults. • Several economic disadvantages were outlined 1. 2. Aquaculture is a labour intensive activity, and the cost of labour is very high in Bermuda, rendering possibly a high cost of production. The lack of available land for an aquaculture-type activity, related to the heavy exploitation of land in Bermuda (97%). Available sites for a land-based facility were scarce, and many of them werealso prime sites for residential areas.
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The inadequate and limited existing legislation and policies regarding aquaculture. Encouragement and protection of aquaculture activity was therefore not present. The multi-use of Bermuda’s inshore waters by tour boat operators, recreational activities, and fishing. Thus, the section of an aquaculture site encompassed more than the biologicalrequirements, but also incorporation into the existing traditional use of the inshore waters.

The main advantages outlined in favour of aquaculture development were the following: 1. Local seafood is a luxury commodity in Bermuda for both tourists and residents. This situation is due to the high import of finfish and shellfish, amounting to more than 80% of the seafood consumed. This implies...