SPATIAL AND PARENT-AGE ANALYSIS OF STOCK RECRUITMENT IN THE GEORGES BANK SEA SCALLOP (PLACOPECTEN-MAGELLANICUS) POPULATION

Reproductive interaction between and within subpopulations on Georges Bank was investigated employing annual sampling surveys of sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) abundance available from 1977 to 1988. Tim e series of recruitment and, together with size-specific fecundity, to tal yearly egg production were constructed for Georges Bank and all su bregions to generate a spatial stock-recruitment analysis. Recruitment is correlated with egg production within the population on the Northe rn Edge and Northeast Peak which may imply that it is reproductively s elf-sustaining. Stock-recruitment correlations increased when the eggs of scallops age 3 and 4 were excluded from the stock measure of total egg production. This increase in correlation occurred in every subreg ion where there was evidence of a positive relationship between eggs a nd recruits, most strongly for the Northern Edge and Northeast Peak. T his is consistent with the hypothesis that older scallops (ages 5 +) a re the principle contributors to recruitment. Presently, the fishery b egins removing large numbers at age 3.25. Previous yield per recruit a nalyses have predicted higher yields if age of first capture were rais ed. These correlations may suggest that the same policy could also res ult in higher recruitment.