Status of the Exploited Clam Ruditapes decussatus in the Littoral Zone of Sfax, TunisiaBen Mohamed, Nour (Avtor) Derbali, Abdelkarim (Avtor) Ruditapes decussatusstock assessmentcartographypopulation structureSfax coastsTunisiaThe natural populations of Ruditapes decussatus in Tunisia are heavily harvested. The clam harvesting sector is of paramount importance for the local fishing industry. This study was performed to estimate stocks and provide a management plan for natural populations along the Sfax coasts, as the area prepares to resume operations after a 3-year hiatus from exploitation. The results have revealed significant density fluctuation of this bivalve in the study area, which was roughly divided into six sites. The stock density ranged from 0 to 8 ind m-2, and biomass values varied from 0 to 54 g m-2. The total biomass amounted to 115.4 tons, with abundance levels exceeding 22.45 million individuals across an area of 3,867 hectares. The sampled individuals ranged in size from 2 to 59 mm. It was observed that the spread of the species was strongly affected by several abiotic parameters. In order to sustainably exploit this resource, guidelines are necessary to prevent overfishing and restore the stock to sustainable levels.20242026-07-06 14:50:42Delo ni kategorizirano30831UDK: 5DOI: 10.19233/ASHN.2024.18slImetniki avtorskih pravic na prispevkih so avtorji. CC BY-NC 4.0