Inshore survey for razor clams using towed-video

Electrofishing has emerged as a fishing technique for razor clams in inshore waters around Scotland. The Scottish Government is running an on-going trial to see if the electrofisheries can be managed in a sustainable manner.

We developed a towed-video combined with electrofishing rig which we deploy from commercial vessels to assess the state of the resource. So far we have conducted surveys along the Ayr coast (Firth of Clyde) and in Largo Bay (Firth of Forth). The technique appears to be producing useful information for use in the on-going management of these fisheries.

Role of SAMS on project

Surveying and data analysis

Reports and papers

Fox, C.J., To develop the methodology to undertake stock assessments on razor fish using combinations of video monitoring and electrofishing gear. Final report for Fishing Industry Science Alliance (FISA) Project 09/15. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science, 8, 6, Aberdeen, 97 pp.http://dx.doi.org/10.7489/1908-1.

Fox, C., Report on razor clam surveys in the Sound of Harris and the Ayrshire coast of the Clyde (Girvan to North Bay). Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science, Vol 9 No 3, 54 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.7489/12054-1.

Fox, C.J., McLay, A., Dickens, S., Development and application of electrofishing with towed video as a new survey method for razor clams (Ensis spp.). Fish. Res. 214, 76-84, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2019.01.027.