Effects of Mechanical Cockle Harvesting on Intertidal Communities

• Published in: The Journal of applied ecology Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 464 - 474
• Main Authors: Ferns, P. N., Rostron, D. M., Siman, H. Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-06-2000; Blackwell Science; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Amphipoda; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Bathyporeia pilosa; benthic disturbance; benthic invertebrates; Biological and medical sciences; Birds; Burry Inlet; Cerastoderma edule; Coastal ecology; Cockles; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastropoda; Haematopus ostralegus; Human ecology; Hydrobia ulvae; Inlets; Invertebrates; Lanice conchilega; Marine ecology; Nephtys hombergi; Numenius arquata; Pelecypoda; Polychaeta; Pygospio elegans; Scoloplos armiger; Sea birds; Sediments; shorebirds; United Kingdom; Great Britain; Europe; Wales; Edible mollusc; Cerastoderma edule; Zoobenthos; Fishing; Coastal zone; Marine environment; Vertebrata; Intertidal zone; Faunal survey; Bivalvia; Animal community; Environment impact; Invertebrata; Mollusca; Aves; Anthropogenic factor; Ecological abundance
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2664.2000.00509.x
• EISSN: 1365-2664
• ISSN: 0021-8901

1. Shellfish of marketable size can be harvested much more quickly and efficiently using mechanical methods such as tractor-powered harvesters and suction dredgers than by traditional methods. The adverse effects of such machines on non-target organisms need to be considered carefully before licensing such activities. 2. A tractor-towed cockle harvester was used to extract cockles from intertidal plots of muddy sand and clean sand in order to investigate the effects on other benthic invertebrates and their predators. 3. Harvesting resulted in the loss of a significant proportion of the most common invertebrates from both areas, ranging in the muddy sand from 31% of Scoloplos armiger (Polychaeta) (initial density 120 m-2) to 83% of Pygospio elegans (Polychaeta) (initial density 1850 m-2). Significant effects could not be detected in most populations with a density of less than 100 m-2. 4. Populations of Pygospio elegans and Hydrobia ulvae (Gastropoda) remained significantly depleted in the area of muddy sand for more than 100 days after harvesting, and Nephtys hombergi (Polychaeta), Scoloplos armiger and Bathyporeia pilosa (Amphipoda) for more than 50 days. 5. Invertebrate populations in clean sand with relatively few cockles Cerastoderma edule (Pelecypoda) recovered more quickly than those in muddy sand with a more structured community, which included several tube-dwelling species such as Pygospio elegans and Lanice conchilega (Polychaeta). 6. Bird feeding activity increased at first on the harvested areas, with gulls and waders taking advantage of invertebrates made available by harvesting. Subsequently, in the area of muddy sand, the level of bird activity declined compared with control areas. It remained significantly reduced in curlews Numenius arquata and gulls for more than 80 days after harvesting and in oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus for more than 50 days. 7. It is concluded from this study that tractor dredging for cockles in high density areas causes a sufficiently large mortality of non-target invertebrates that harvesters should be excluded from areas of conservation importance for intertidal communities such as invertebrates, fish and birds.