Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) in France: Fishing activity, governance and present knowledge challenges regarding its biology and ecology

Originally introduced to France in the 1970s for aquaculture purposes, the clam Ruditapes philippinarum (Adam and Reeve, 1850) has thrived in favourable conditions across numerous sites along the Bay of Biscay, English Channel and Mediterranean coasts forming neo-naturalized populations. It is harvested by both recreational and professional fishers, with an estimated production ratio of 2.4 for both activities combined. Total French commercial fishing production is roughly estimated at around 2000 to 3000 tons per year. This activity is managed by three types of regulation at different scales: European (Minimum Conservation Reference Size - MCRS), national (licenses), and regional. Regional instruments govern fishing practices by setting spatial and temporal access rules to fishing grounds (also referred to as deposits), prohibiting certain gear types at the local scale, determining the minimum size of clam fishing (above MCRS) and setting fishing quotas. Not all of them are implemented everywhere; most often, they are based on stock assessment results and specific research programs, which are not available in every location. This article first provides a review of available information on current Manila clam production in France, and its regulation. Second, it offers an overview of recent knowledge mobilized for management purposes. This overview covers biological and ecological processes ( i.e. population dynamics, reproduction and spawning, habitats considerations, biotic interactions and infectious diseases), and enables us to identify future research prospects of interest. • Manila clam fishing is a significant activity for French coastal communities. • Knowledge (fisheries and biology) review of Manila clam in France. • How science is mobilized to support the governing of the French Manila clam fishery. • Identification of future research prospects for the Manila clam in France.

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Publication Details

Journal
Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science
Published
2025-02-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109206
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.32

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article

Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) in France: Fishing activity, governance and present knowledge challenges regarding its biology and ecology

Sylvie Lapègue, Noëlle Bru, Christine Paillard, Olivier Basuyaux et al.
3 citations
Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science
Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
3.32
article

Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) in France: Fishing activity, governance and present knowledge challenges regarding its biology and ecology

Sylvie Lapègue, Noëlle Bru, Christine Paillard, Olivier Basuyaux, Aurélie Chambouvet, Isabelle Arzul, F. Sánchez, Jean‐Philippe Pezy, A. Guéguen, Jean–Claude Dauvin, Franck Lagarde, Xavier de Montaudouin, Caitriona Carter, Florentine Riquet, Claire Kermorvant, Nathalie Caill‐Milly, Ludovic Bouché, Yohan Weiller, Muriel Lissardy, Céline D’Hardivillé, Nicolas Mayot
article en
3 citations

Abstract

Originally introduced to France in the 1970s for aquaculture purposes, the clam Ruditapes philippinarum (Adam and Reeve, 1850) has thrived in favourable conditions across numerous sites along the Bay of Biscay, English Channel and Mediterranean coasts forming neo-naturalized populations. It is harvested by both recreational and professional fishers, with an estimated production ratio of 2.4 for both activities combined. Total French commercial fishing production is roughly estimated at around 2000 to 3000 tons per year. This activity is managed by three types of regulation at different scales: European (Minimum Conservation Reference Size - MCRS), national (licenses), and regional. Regional instruments govern fishing practices by setting spatial and temporal access rules to fishing grounds (also referred to as deposits), prohibiting certain gear types at the local scale, determining the minimum size of clam fishing (above MCRS) and setting fishing quotas. Not all of them are implemented everywhere; most often, they are based on stock assessment results and specific research programs, which are not available in every location. This article first provides a review of available information on current Manila clam production in France, and its regulation. Second, it offers an overview of recent knowledge mobilized for management purposes. This overview covers biological and ecological processes ( i.e. population dynamics, reproduction and spawning, habitats considerations, biotic interactions and infectious diseases), and enables us to identify future research prospects of interest. • Manila clam fishing is a significant activity for French coastal communities. • Knowledge (fisheries and biology) review of Manila clam in France. • How science is mobilized to support the governing of the French Manila clam fishery. • Identification of future research prospects for the Manila clam in France.

Estuarine Coastal and Shelf ScienceVol. 317
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour (FR), Université de Bordeaux (FR), Ifremer (FR), Université de Montpellier (FR), Sorbonne Université (FR), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR), Continental (France) (FR), Environnements et Paléoenvironnements Océaniques et Continentaux (FR), Normandie Université (FR), French National Agency for Water and Aquatic Environments (FR), Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin (FR), Agence Régionale de Santé Nouvelle-Aquitaine (FR), Marine Biodiversity Exploitation and Conservation (FR), Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (FR), Global Initiative on Psychiatry (GE), Centre d'Études et d'Expertise sur les Risques, l'Environnement, la Mobilité et l'Aménagement (FR), Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (FR), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR), Shanghai Maritime University (CN), Université de Caen Normandie (FR)
National Institute of Fisheries Science
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
3.32
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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