Preliminary histological observations of mature gonads in Pecten jacobaeus fished off western Sardinia Item

In Italy, the studies on Pecten jacobaeus are limited to natural populations present in Adriatic Sea, because of widespread and commercial interest of this species. Brief information on this species, with particular emphasis on diffusion and fishing techniques, are reported by Renzoni (1991). The studies on on its biology and reproductive physiology are limited to the Adriatic area (Valli 1977, 1979). The present study aims to increase current knowledge on the reproductive biology of P.jacobaeus, in the Tyrrhenian sea, looking also the possible aquaculture development of this resource.