The scallop Pecten ziczac (Linnaeus, 1758) fishery in Brazil

In this article, we summarize data available on a previously unreported and very intensive fishery that targetted the tropical scallop Pecten ziczac on the southern Brazilian shelf during the 1970s and early 1980s. Scallop beds were found between 24 degree 26'S and 26 degree 30'S, on sandy substrates between 30 and 50 m deep, on the inner continental shelf. Brazilian fishery of P. ziczac began in 1972, when trawlers licensed for the industrial pink-shrimp fishery (Penaeus paulensis and Penaeus brasiliensis) modified their shrimp otter-trawl to catch scallops. Landings of P. ziczac rose from 4.5 tons in 1972 (first year of production) to 3,799 tons in 1975 and were followed by a pronounced decline in subsequent years, with a minimum of 8.7 tons in 1978. A second and higher peak in scallop production started in 1979, with a total of 8,845 tons recorded in 1980. However, after the 1980 peak, landings of P. ziczac were drastically reduced, and scallops returned to the initial condition of a minor by-catch item in the shrimp fishery. Our recent surveys point to a complete collapse of the resource. Since its beginning, the scallop fishery in Brazil was conducted without any specific scientific monitoring and legal regulation.