TOWARDS A STRATEGY FOR MANAGEMENT A SMALL-SCALE FISHERY

Abstract

Since 1983. the Fisheries Biology División of INAPE are subject to the study of yellow clam Mesodesma mactroides (Deshayes, 1854) fishery management, including biological and socioeconomic factors. This paper shows preliminary results, because the absence of catch and effort slatistics don't let the development of analytical and surplus production models. Nevertheless, a mínimum size limit to control harvest of small yellow clams and an annual quota divided in unequal seasonal ones are proposed, reflecting the expectation that greater fishing activity and harvest occur from late spring through early fall. Furlhermore. a fishery management plan is discussed. in an attempt to develop a scheme which tends to obtain an optimum biological. social and econotnic yicld from the fishery.