Disentangling Environmental, Economic, and Technological Factors Driving Scallop (Argopecten purpuratus) Aquaculture in Chile

Abstract

The boom-and-bust trajectory of the Argopecten purpuratus industry in Chile shows the progression from resource extraction (fishing) to production (aquaculture). This paper analyses the effects of environmental, economic, and scientific–technological factors. The influence of each factor on scallop production in Chile was reviewed for the period between the 1980s and 2020. The evaluation of the effects allows the visualisation of the industry’s productive evolution and reveals the current challenges. The occurrence of abrupt environmental disturbances, commercialisation under imperfect market configurations, and public and private efforts in scientific and technological advances have acted favourably on scallop production. However, an industry mainly focused on prices and high production volumes did not devote much effort to develop low-cost climate-resilient technologies. Today, economic challenges must be addressed by helping to reduce production costs and add economic value to products and by-products. Our results show that the industry must focus on low-cost technologies, the use of renewable energy, and the circularity of its processes. The environment ensures the capture of natural seeds and their adaptation to climate change. These challenges must not lose sight of the emerging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commercial Quality, Biological Indices and Biochemical Composition of Queen Scallop Aequipecten opercularis in Culture

“…Topić-Popović et al [11], in their research in the Northern Adriatic at a depth of 15 m, measured the highest concentrations during the winter (5.89 mg/L). The temperature and nutrient availability in the water column are the main factors affecting scallop growth [2,5,33]. Therefore, scallops were fed each day to exclude this factor in observing the effects of varying seawater parameters.…”

“…Wild mussels and oyster stocks are depleted due to unsustainable overfishing practices and climate change [2,4]. In addition to concerns about overfishing, the main barriers to consuming marine seafood are price and nutritional quality affected by human activities [5]. Although various aquatic animals have adapted and thrived in the marine ecosystem, biodiversity and productivity are rapidly changing due to climate change [6,7].…”

Removal of Contaminants in Water with Scallop Shell Waste

“…At the moment, northern scallop production in Chile is concentrated in just a third of the companies founded at the beginning of this industry, and the industry is focused on production volumes with the main challenge being to develop technology to reduce production costs [10]. The Coquimbo region (IV region, Chile) has 93.9% of the national production of northern scallops, which was 3654 tons in 2021 [11].…”

Navigating transformations from artisanal fishers to entrepreneurial scallop farmers in Chile

“…Different events contributed significantly to the boom of A. purpuratus as a commodity in Chile, in general, and in Tongoy Bay, in particular, in particular (Stotz, 2000;Kluger et al, 2019;Bakit et al, 2022). These events included a favorable climate event, namely the warm ENSO (El Niño -Southern Oscillation) current phase that occurred in the mid-1980s, which favored scallop recruitment, survival, and growth (Illanes et al, 1985;Wolff, 1987).…”

“…These bans still remain in force, meaning that the only permitted capture is for seeding purposes (Subpesca, 2012), because the natural stocks have not been able to recover due to the continuous harvesting of adult scallops. The development of aquaculture production of the species became the only viable alternative if exports were to continue after the mid-1980s (Bakit et al, 2022). Experimental farming based on Japanese cultivation systems began in 1985 (Uriarte, 2008;Bakit et al, 2019), and culminated in the implementation of technology adapted to the conditions of Tongoy Bay, subsequently distributed to the local productive sector for commercial purposes (Uriarte et al, 2001;Bakit et al, 2019).…”