Report on razor clam surveys on Tarbert Bank

This report describes a survey carried out on Tarbert Bank in 2023 to estimate the densities and sizes of razor clams, Ensis siliqua and Ensis magnus. The survey was conducted as part of the Scottish Government’s electrofishing scientific trial.


References

Fahy, E., and Carroll, J. 2007. Consequences of hydraulic dredging for a razor clam Ensis siliqua (L.) bed in the north-west Irish Sea. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 107B: 115-128. Measures of hydraulic dredge efficiency and razor clam production, two aspects governing sustainability within the Scottish commercial fishery | Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom | Cambridge Core.

Fahy E, Gaffney J (2001) Growth statistics of an exploited razor clam (Ensis siliqua) bed at Gormanstown, Co Meath, Ireland. Hydrobiolgia 465:139-151. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0434-3_14

Fahy E, Norman M, Browne R, Roantree V, Pfeiffer N, Stokes D, Carroll J, Hannaffy O (2001) Distribution, population structure, growth and reproduction of the razor clam Ensis arcuatus (Jeffreys) (Solenaceae) in coastal waters of western Ireland. Irish Fisheries Investigations, 1030 pp.

Fox C (2018) Report on razor clam surveys in the Sound of Harris and the Ayrshire coast of the Clyde (Girvan to North Bay). Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science, Vol 9 No 354 pp.

Fox CJ (2017) To develop the methodology to undertake stock assessments on razor fish using combinations of video monitoring and electrofishing gear. Final report for Fishing Industry Science Alliance (FISA) Project 09/15. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science 6, 8, Aberdeen, 97 pp.

Fox CJ (2021) Report on razor clam surveys in Largo Bay (Firth of Forth). Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science 2043-7722, 12, Edinburgh, 33 pp.

Fox CJ, McLay A, Dickens S (2019) Development and application of electrofishing with towed video as a new survey method for razor clams (Ensis spp.). Fish Res 214:76-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2019.01.027

Gibson RN, Ansell AD, Robb L (1993) Seasonal and annual variations in abundance and species composition on a Scottish sandy beach. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 98:89-105.

Hauton, C, Howell, T R W, Atkinson, RJA, Moore PG (2007) Measures of hydraulic dredge efficiency and razor clam production, two aspects governing sustainability within the Scottish commercial fishery. J Mar Biol Assoc UK, 87: 869-877. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315407055300.

Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara. 2021. Shellfish stocks and fisheries review 2021, The Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara, 978-1-902895-73-4. 82 pp.

McKay DW (1992) Report on a survey around Scotland of potentially exploitable burrowing bivalve molluscs. Fisheries Research Services Report, 1/9270 pp.

Murray F, Copland P, Boulcott P, Rovertson M, Bailey N (2014) Electrofishing for razor clams (Ensis siliqua and E. arquatus): Effects on survival and recovery of target and non-target species. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science 14, 5, Marine Scotland Science, Aberdeen, 50 pp.

Scottish Government (2017) Scottish Statutory Instruments. No. 419. The razor clams (Prohibition on Fishing and Landing)(Scotland) Order 2017. Scottish Government, 4 pp.

Tuck, I. D., Bailey, N., Harding, M., Sangster, G., Howell, T., Graham, N., and Breen, M. 2000. The impact of water jet dredging for razor clams, Ensis spp., in a shallow sandy subtidal environment. Journal of Sea Research, 43: 65-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1385-1101(99)00037-4.

Contact

Email: mss.fisheries.advice@gov.scot

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