Report of the occurrence of Atrina pectinata (Bivalvia: Pinnidae) in Ulleung Island, East Sea of Korea

Abstract

The pen shell Atrina pectinata is one of the most important shellfish resources in Korean waters, which distributes 20-50m deep mud or sand bottom along the south and west coasts. For the past two decades, the pen shell landings in Korea have been decreased continuously due to over-fishing, habitat loss resulting from the coastal reclamation and pollution. Recently, pen shell population has been discovered in the coastal Ulleung Island, located in the middle of the East Sea of Korea. To understand the pen shell population structure in the Ulleung Island, we surveyed the pen shell size and density as well as the environmental condition from July to September 2013. The pen shell density was 6 to 19 individuals in the square meter with a mean density of 10.9 individuals/m2. The shell height of A. pectinata ranged from 21.7 to 28.8cm with a mean of 25.2cm. The pen shells were populated in silty mud sediment, although the coastal Ulleung Island is mostly composed of rocks. Discovery of the high density of the pen shell population in Ulleung Island is somewhat unexpected, and the present investigation provides some basic information for the future development of pen shell fisheries or aquaculture in Ullenug Island.ve been decreased continuously due to over-fishing, habitat loss resulting from the coastal reclamation and pollution. Recently, pen shell population has been discovered in the coastal Ulleung Island, located in the middle of the East Sea of Korea. To understand the pen shell population structure in the Ulleung Island, we surveyed the pen shell size and density as well as the environmental condition from July to September 2013. The pen shell density was 6 to 19 individuals in the square meter with a mean density of 10.9 individuals/m2. The shell height of A. pectinata ranged from 21.7 to 28.8cm with a mean of 25.2cm. The pen shells were populated in silty mud sediment, although the coastal Ulleung Island is mostly composed of rocks. Discovery of the high density of the pen shell population in Ulleung Island is somewhat unexpected, and the present investigation provides some basic information for the future development of pen shell fisheries or aquaculture in Ullenug Island.