Polyculture of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg), with chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

• Published in: Aquaculture Vol. 92; no. 4; pp. 313 - 322
• Main Authors: Jones, Trevor O., Iwama, George K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 1991; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; CAGE A POISSON; CRASSOSTREA GIGAS; FISH CAGES; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; JAULAS PARA PECES; Marine; ONCORHYNCHUS KISUTCH; Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; POLICULTIVO PISCICOLA; POLYCULTURE; POLYCULTURE (AQUACULTURE); Vertebrata; Organic matter; Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; Bivalvia; Growth; Pisces; Invertebrata; Mollusca; Crassostrea gigas; Aquaculture
• ISSN: 0044-8486; 1873-5622
• DOI: 10.1016/0044-8486(91)90037-8

The growth and condition indices of year-1 oysters, Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg), were compared, over a 5-month period, for six stations located at a commercial salmon farm and at two control stations which were located at commercial oyster leases, away from any salmon farm. Increases in shell heights of oysters suspended at the salmon farm were as much as three times ( P<0.01) greater than that at the control stations. Increases in shell height and monthly instantaneous growth rates declined with distance from the salmon farm. Condition index ((dry meat weight/dry shell weight) × 1000) and post-spawn recovery of the oysters were greatest at the stations associated with the salmon farm compared to controls ( P<0.05). Temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a and b concentrations, and seston of the water were also determined at each site. Increase in shell height was most dependent on chlorophyll a levels for all stations ( r 2=0.6–0.7, P<0.05). Instantaneous growth rate was most dependent on particulate organic matter (POM; r 2=0.44–0.87, P<0.05) for all stations. Condition index was most dependent on POM concentrations ( r 2=0.45–0.77, P<0.05) at stations located in the salmon cages and on chlorophyll a concentrations ( r 2=0.4–0.87, P<0.05) at stations not in the salmon cages.