This study was carried out in El Queso area at the Independencia Bay (Pisco, Perú), from February 1992 to March 1993. The vertical distribution of larvae and temporal pattern of spat settlement of the Peruvian scallop (Argopecten purpuratus) were determined using artificial collectors. In order to relate this pattern with environmental conditions, temperature, dissolved oxigen, and transparency were measured. The distribution of postlarvae and spat settlement pattern in the water column showed up to 45 times more abundance of larvae in the lower than in the upper layer of the water column. Highest abundance of larvae and spat settlement ocurred between 11 and 16 m depth in a water column of 20 m. Maximum of spat collection in commercial collectors bags were registered in may and July, which suggests a strong spawning activity in autum. Spats collected with commercial bags were higher than 500 spat/ bag in April, May, June, July and October and indicates important periods of spat settlement during the second half of summer season, in autum and during the end of winter 1992. The spat collection varied directly with the exposition time of the bags an is discussed in relation to the environmental parameters.