The effect of fishing on growth of the clam Chamelea gallina (Bivalvia: Veneridae) from the Turkish Black Sea coast

Age and growth of the clam Chamelea gallina from dredged, non-dredged and closed areas of the Turkish Black Sea coast were estimated. Von Bertalanffy growth curves were fitted for each sampling site; asymptotic length (L∞) values ranged between 25.995 and 28.883 mm and the growth coefficient (K) from 0.164 to 0.217 per year. Results indicate growth rates were significantly reduced in the far eastern commercial populations compared with those in western populations. According to our results presented here it can be concluded that C. gallina at closed area does not grow as fast as non-dredged stock and this is because of the shortness of closure season. Nevertheless we suggest that fallowing is the major precaution for the recovery of C. gallina stocks in the Black Sea.