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1.This study is the first attempt using Levins's Theory (loop analysis) in order to develop a sustainable management for the scallop, Argopecten purpuratus, fishery in Peru during El Niño-Southern Oscillation events (ENSO) and upwelling conditions. Based on this theoretical framework, it was possible to estimate the local stability for each of these model systems and to follow the qualitative changes of the variables in response to external factors. 2.Based on our results, we suggest the following management policies to be implemented: (1) during ENSO events the size at the first capture of the scallops should be >70 mm and (2) the increase in the number of fishermen during ENSO events must be prevented. Both measures increase the sustainability of fishery under ENSO and upwelling conditions. The ecological models predict that during ENSO and upwelling events, any management strategy to increase the recruitment of the scallop would not have a positive impact on the adult stock. 3.Finally, we suggest that more efforts must be focused on the development of extended eco-social models, which incorporate further social and economic variables, increasing realism of the abstractions for this fishery activity. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. This paper sets out to: (1) review previous ecological studies and analyse recent trends of the Peruvian bay scallop fishery in order to better understand and to model the species’ temporal and spatial (meta) population dynamics along the South Pacific coast; (2) develop a fisheries model to protect the stock from overexploitation and optimize the annual yield of the pulse fishery in Independence Bay, the centre of the scallop diving fishery in Peru. 2. Natural stock fluctuations are very pronounced in this species and are positively correlated with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). During such an event, habitat conditions for the Peruvian bay scallop are improved either regionally or locally, such that populations proliferate and larval production and dispersal are greatly increased. Extinct beds and new habitats are recolonized during these periods (producing a strong pulse of metapopulation biomass), although most become extinct very shortly thereafter. 3. For management purposes, two considerations are fundamental: (1) heavy overfishing or extinction of the main scallop source populations would endanger the metapopulation as a whole; (2) rates of growth and survival greatly increase (and with them the potential yield of the scallop stock) locally over an El Niño cycle in a way that can be roughly estimated from past experience, including the most recent El Niño event (1997–1998). 4. We suggest a fisheries management regime capable of adapting to natural changes and propose a procedure for calculating both the optimal yield and the respective fishing effort under normal upwelling and El Niño scenarios, considering changes in the size at first capture (Lc) and fishery mortality (F). Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]