Growth of Crassostrea gigas and Mytilus edulis in the Oosterschelde estuary in relation to local food availibility

• Main Author: Glerum, J.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: RIVO 2006
• Subjects: fish culture; fish farms; mussels; oysters; yields; mossels; oesters; opbrengsten; viskwekerijen; visteelt; Pacific; Crassostrea gigas
• Online Access: https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/growth-of-crassostrea-gigas-and-mytilus-edulis-in-the-oosterschel

Disappointing growth of cultured mussels and oysters in previous years resulted in a reduced yield for mussel and oyster farmers. This is accounted to the increasing amount of wild Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and the reduction of primary production of phytoplankton. The aim of this study was measuring growth of sub littoral C.gigas and M.edulis in the four compartments of Oosterschelde estuary, in relation to local food availability. In the North compartment of the Oosterschelde estuary local circumstances limited growth in relation to food availability. High mortality and limited growth in relation to food availability are attributed to a combination of reduced salinity, low currents velocity and the possibility of unfavourable algae