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Growth and survival of the pearl oyster Pinctada imbricata röding 1798 under different systems of confinement in suspended culture

Abstract:

The pearl oyster, Pinctada imbricata, has a double economic interest in eastern Venezuela, since it is used for human consumption and production of pearls. The growth of the shell, muscle and remaining tissues, as well as the survival of juveniles (shell length of 19,1±2,22 mm) and the influence of environmental factors (temperature, salinity, oxygen seston, phytoplanktonic biomass, and fouling) were evaluated in organisms confined in 4 different culture elements: cylinders made of PVC, cylinders of plastic mesh, open baskets and closed baskets, suspended in a "long line". The essays were performed in Mochima Bay, Sucre state, Venezuela, during seven months. The growth and survival rates were similar in the different confinement elements, without significant differences in any of the several growth parameters evaluated. The animals cultured in open baskets showed the largest slope among the relationships between shell length and mass of tissues. The growth pattern had a positive association with food availability (seston and chlorophyll a concentrations), which confirms the influence of these parameters on the growth of P. imbricata. Since there were not significant differences among the growth parameters in the different culture elements, the use of the element with the least cost (cylinder of plastic mesh) is suggested. The results show the low possibility for the species to be cultured in Mochima Bay in 7 months, since the commercial size (50 mm shell length) could not be attained and survival was 40-60%. Nevertheless, the suggestion is made for the culture time to be increased until reaching commercial size.