''Argopecten purpuratus'' is an edible marine
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of saltwater shellfish, a
bivalve mollusk
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Pectinidae
Scallop () is a common name that encompasses various species of marine bivalve mollusks in the taxonomic family Pectinidae, the scallops. However, the common name "scallop" is also sometimes applied to species in other closely related families ...
.
Habitat
This scallop is natural to certain bays in the Southern west coast of south America, from Peru to Chile.
Peru
In Peru, the scallops can be found in large numbers naturally around the following bays:
# Pisco (300 km South of Lima)
# Casma y Samanco (400 km north of Lima)
# Trujillo (600 km north of Lima)
# Sechura Bay & Paita Bay (900 km north of Lima)
Commercial value
The scallops can be harvested and commercialized to several markets around the world.
In most growth areas, the harvesting of natural grown scallops has been replaced by aquaculture operations.
The aquaculture operations consist in re-stocking the natural areas, taking care of the scallops along the grow out period and harvesting at the end of the cycle.
Thanks to this practices, the natural banks have recovered and are able to maintain a sustainable production level.
Markets
The demand of scallops is mainly from following markets:
# USA: Roe Off product
# France: Roe-On product
# China: Roe-On & Skirt-On, Whole, products
# Australia and New Zealand: Roe-On product
# Spain and Italy: Roe-On on Half shell product
References
External links
www.sealifebase.org/
Commercial molluscs
Bivalves described in 1819
purpuratus
Taxa named by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Invertebrates of Peru
{{Pectinidae-stub