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RIM 29(1): First attempt to cultivate black scallop Mimachlamys varia (L., 1758) under suspended conditions in waters of the Basque coast (SE Bay of Biscay): a note

Author: Izaskun Zorita, José Germán Rodriguez, Joxe Mikel Garmendia

Año: 2023

Contactobiblioteca@azti.es

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Summary:

In the present study the feasibility of black scallop Mimachlamys varia (Linnaeus, 1758) culture was evaluated using different growing systems under suspended conditions on the Basque coast (SE Bay of Biscay). Juveniles obtained from a hatchery, with a mean shell height of 23.6 ± 4.1 mm and a mean weight of 2.06 ± 1.09 g, were deployed in oyster cages and pots at two experimental sites: a raft installed in the sheltered waters in a harbour (Mutriku) and a longline located at offshore waters, at 2 nm from the coast (Mendexa). The experiment was run from June 2019 to August 2020. Black scallops attained commercial size (40 mm) in 8 months in offshore waters and in 10 months in the sheltered harbour waters, reaching a mean final weight of 10.23 g, regardless of the culture system used. Survival was low after the first months of immersion at both sites (1.9-56.9 %), but the highest survival values were detected in black scallops reared in pots in offshore waters. This high mortality must be reduced so that the culture of this species can be viable from the point of view of economic profitability. This work provides relevant data for the diversification of bivalve mollusc production on the Basque coast.

Keywords: Growth, Survival, Bay of Biscay, Mimachlamys varia, Offshore aquaculture, Diversification.

 

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