Growth of juvenile Haliotis tuberculata (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in their natural environment

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONThe ormer (Haliotis tuberculata L.) occurs in some abundance off the north coast of Brittany and the Channel Islands. On the French coast, exploitation of this species is not legally authorised except in the intertidal zone and the sublittoral stocks have for some years aroused the interest of local fishermen. Studies have therefore been initiated to investigate the exploitation potential of this new resource, and different aspects of the biology and ecology of the ormer have been examined so as to make use of models of population dynamics. Thus, a study of growth merits particular attention.