Trials on Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg) rearing in the middle Adriatic Sea by means of different trays.

• Main Authors: RONCARATI, Alessandra, FELICI, Alberto, MELOTTI, Paolo, DEES A, FORLINI L
• Other Authors: Roncarati, Alessandra, Felici, Alberto, Dees, A, Forlini, L, Melotti, Paolo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Pacific; Crassostrea gigas; Pacific oyster
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11581/200338

The aim of this study was to compare the growth of juvenile Pacific oysters (mean weight 2.22 g; mean length 26.8 mm) reared with the suspended technique using three different types of trays fixed to long lines at a mussel farm located in the middle Adriatic Sea. Growth, mortality rate and quality traits of oysters cultured in a new type of tray (EXP) were compared to those of specimens reared in conventional trays (CON) and in ‘‘poches’’ (POC). Culture density was fixed at 0.03 oysters cm-2 in all the tray types. After 11 months of growth, oysters reared in all the tray types reached marketable size, weighing between 94.08 and 110 g without significant differences. Length (98.8–103.3 mm), width (61.1–70.5 mm) and height (31.6–34.1 mm) did not show significant variations. The condition index showed differences among EXP (93.17%) compared to CON (81%) and POC oysters (72.87%), and significant differences were found between those reared at the surface and the bottom, regardless of tray type. Concerning mortality, the EXP group (7.5%) recorded significantly smaller losses than CON (18.4%) trays and POC (31.6%).