Environmental impact of razor clam harvesting using salt in Ria Formosa lagoon (southern Portugal) and subsequent recovery of associated benthic communities (2024)

Constantino, R., Gaspar, M. B., Pereira, F., Carvalho, S., Cúrdia, J., Matias, D., & Monteiro, C. C. (2009). Environmental impact of razor clam harvesting using salt in Ria Formosa lagoon (southern Portugal) and subsequent recovery of associated benthic communities. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 19(5), 542-553. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.995

Constantino, Rita ; Gaspar, Miguel B. ; Pereira, Fábio et al. / Environmental impact of razor clam harvesting using salt in Ria Formosa lagoon (southern Portugal) and subsequent recovery of associated benthic communities. In: Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 2009 ; Vol. 19, No. 5. pp. 542-553.

@article{45c6282f287f460c80e6cf25156b60f5,

title = "Environmental impact of razor clam harvesting using salt in Ria Formosa lagoon (southern Portugal) and subsequent recovery of associated benthic communities",

abstract = "1. Razor clams are found in different habitats ranging from sheltered systems (e.g. lagoons and estuaries) to open coasts. They are distributed worldwide and comprise a small number of species of high economic value. Depending on the specific habitat and species exploited, different mechanical and hand-harvesting techniques are employed. While the environmental effects resulting from mechanized methods have been described by several authors, the impacts caused by traditional hand-harvesting methods remain unknown. Therefore, a study was undertaken in Ria Formosa lagoon (South of Portugal) addressing the environmental effects resulting from harvesting Solen marginatus with salt. 2. No significant impact on the sediment was found; the main effect was an increase in salinity after covering the area with salt, which decreased rapidly with the flood tide and after a few hours had returned to preharvesting levels. 3. No effects on benthic communities were observed, with similar fluctuation patterns recorded in control and experimental areas, the observed differences being attributed to the natural variability of benthic populations. 4. Based on the results obtained in the present study, a razor clam fishery using salt in intertidal areas can be considered environmentally 'friendly'.",

keywords = "Benthic communities, Harvesting impacts, Razor clams, Salt fishery, Solen marginatus",

author = "Rita Constantino and Gaspar, {Miguel B.} and F{\'a}bio Pereira and Susana Carvalho and Jo{\~a}o C{\'u}rdia and Domit{\'i}lia Matias and Monteiro, {Carlos C.}",

year = "2009",

doi = "10.1002/aqc.995",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "19",

pages = "542--553",

journal = "Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems",

issn = "1052-7613",

publisher = "Wiley",

number = "5",

}

Constantino, R, Gaspar, MB, Pereira, F, Carvalho, S, Cúrdia, J, Matias, D & Monteiro, CC 2009, 'Environmental impact of razor clam harvesting using salt in Ria Formosa lagoon (southern Portugal) and subsequent recovery of associated benthic communities', Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 542-553. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.995

Environmental impact of razor clam harvesting using salt in Ria Formosa lagoon (southern Portugal) and subsequent recovery of associated benthic communities. / Constantino, Rita; Gaspar, Miguel B.; Pereira, Fábio et al.
In: Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, Vol. 19, No. 5, 2009, p. 542-553.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Environmental impact of razor clam harvesting using salt in Ria Formosa lagoon (southern Portugal) and subsequent recovery of associated benthic communities

AU - Constantino, Rita

AU - Gaspar, Miguel B.

AU - Pereira, Fábio

AU - Carvalho, Susana

AU - Cúrdia, João

AU - Matias, Domitília

AU - Monteiro, Carlos C.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - 1. Razor clams are found in different habitats ranging from sheltered systems (e.g. lagoons and estuaries) to open coasts. They are distributed worldwide and comprise a small number of species of high economic value. Depending on the specific habitat and species exploited, different mechanical and hand-harvesting techniques are employed. While the environmental effects resulting from mechanized methods have been described by several authors, the impacts caused by traditional hand-harvesting methods remain unknown. Therefore, a study was undertaken in Ria Formosa lagoon (South of Portugal) addressing the environmental effects resulting from harvesting Solen marginatus with salt. 2. No significant impact on the sediment was found; the main effect was an increase in salinity after covering the area with salt, which decreased rapidly with the flood tide and after a few hours had returned to preharvesting levels. 3. No effects on benthic communities were observed, with similar fluctuation patterns recorded in control and experimental areas, the observed differences being attributed to the natural variability of benthic populations. 4. Based on the results obtained in the present study, a razor clam fishery using salt in intertidal areas can be considered environmentally 'friendly'.

AB - 1. Razor clams are found in different habitats ranging from sheltered systems (e.g. lagoons and estuaries) to open coasts. They are distributed worldwide and comprise a small number of species of high economic value. Depending on the specific habitat and species exploited, different mechanical and hand-harvesting techniques are employed. While the environmental effects resulting from mechanized methods have been described by several authors, the impacts caused by traditional hand-harvesting methods remain unknown. Therefore, a study was undertaken in Ria Formosa lagoon (South of Portugal) addressing the environmental effects resulting from harvesting Solen marginatus with salt. 2. No significant impact on the sediment was found; the main effect was an increase in salinity after covering the area with salt, which decreased rapidly with the flood tide and after a few hours had returned to preharvesting levels. 3. No effects on benthic communities were observed, with similar fluctuation patterns recorded in control and experimental areas, the observed differences being attributed to the natural variability of benthic populations. 4. Based on the results obtained in the present study, a razor clam fishery using salt in intertidal areas can be considered environmentally 'friendly'.

KW - Benthic communities

KW - Harvesting impacts

KW - Razor clams

KW - Salt fishery

KW - Solen marginatus

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U2 - 10.1002/aqc.995

DO - 10.1002/aqc.995

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:68149087546

SN - 1052-7613

VL - 19

SP - 542

EP - 553

JO - Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

JF - Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

IS - 5

ER -

Constantino R, Gaspar MB, Pereira F, Carvalho S, Cúrdia J, Matias D et al. Environmental impact of razor clam harvesting using salt in Ria Formosa lagoon (southern Portugal) and subsequent recovery of associated benthic communities. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 2009;19(5):542-553. doi: 10.1002/aqc.995