NMFS NUMBER: 96-SER-001
Assessment of Ark Populations in the Whelk and Calico
Scallop Fishing Grounds off the Coasts of Georgia and
Florida to Determine Distribution, Abundance, and Potential
Commercial Fishery Development of the Cut-Ribbed Ark (Anadara
floridana) and Other Promising Commercial Ark Species
National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Region, 9721
Executive Center Drive, N., St Petersburg, FL 33702.
TELEPHONE: (727) 570-5324
surveyed wild ark populations to determine potential commercial
fishery development in Georgia. Most ark beds occurred
in closed waters that have not been certified by the State
of Georgia for the harvest of shellfish. The ark
beds are limited in size and could be easily overfished.
In addition, density is generally low, so commercial harvest
probably is not economically feasible. However,
two ark species, the blood ark (Anadara ovalis)
and the incongruous ark (A. brasiliana), demonstrated
rapid growth and relatively large size. These species
show potential for use in marine aquaculture.