Growth trials of Crassostrea gigas and Ostrea edulis in inshore waters of Malta (Central Mediterranean) |
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| Authors: | C Agius V Jaccarini DA Ritz |
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| Institution: | Fort St. Lucian Marine Station, The University of Malta Malta |
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| Abstract: | To investigate the possibility of establishing oyster culture in Malta, growth trials with C. gigas and O. edulis were undertaken. The oysters were placed in floating cages at depths of 3 and 8 m at Marsaxlokk bay, Mistra bay and Rinella creek. These oysters were sampled at two-month intervals for their growth, meat-shell index and survival. The temperature, salinity, oxygen tension, chlorophyll-a levels and the levels of particulate matter in suspension in the water at the test sites were monitored concurrently. A programme of qualitative and quantitative analyses of the natural phytoplankton population was also carried out.O. edulis suffered catastrophic summer mortalities at all locations when the ambient temperature of the water reached about 25°C; this virtually rules out any possibility of starting any flat oyster industry using this system. As for C. gigas, Marsaxlokk bay 3 m appears to hold some promise for its culture. At this location, this species showed reasonable growth, relatively low mortality and normal shell growth. Although at Rinella overall growth of C. gigas was comparable to that at Marsaxlokk at 3 m, the Rinella oysters accumulated copper and exhibited abnormal and thickened shell growth with the result that the oysters were of a much inferior condition. Growth at Mistra (both depths) and Marsaxlokk 8 m was stunted.No clear correlation could be established between the performance of the oysters and the environmental parameters monitored. Several factors that may have been responsible for the observed differences in oyster performance are discussed. In particular, the nature of the water movements is thought to have played a key role in dictating the growth of the oysters. |
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