Damage assessment and survival estimates in the wedge clam (<i>Donax trunculus</i>) caught by mechanical dredging in the northern Alboran Sea

This paper describes the impact of dredging on populations wedge clam (Donax trunculus) at two sites along northern Alboran coast. Damage was assessed by quantifying shell and foot damage commercial clams caught with mechanical dredges. Survival experiments were carried out to assess their survival capacity after 24 h purification treatment 72 cold storage, which represents an issue great interest for fisheries research, management marketing. Overall, 2.4% suffered any type damage, including chipped edges scratched valves. Higher proportions shell-damaged individuals positively correlated bottom features (e.g. gravel content in sediment). Moreover, higher towing speed significantly increased damage. Analyses areas revealed that anterior dorsal ventral parts are most vulnerable dredging. A total 15.9% showed foot, seems not affect survival. The incidence mostly linked sublethal predation, reflected a positive correlation between proportion foot-damaged biomass decapod crustaceans fishing ground. Finally, D. trunculus exhibited very low mortality rates (0.2–0.4%) storage (0.3–3.2%). rate end experiment high (>96%), highest observed 96 day. No correlations found or speed.