Performance of oyster (<i>Crassostrea tulipa</i>) spat cultured at different densities

Abstract

This paper describes an experiment conducted in the Nakwa Lagoon (in Ghana) to determine the optimum stocking density of oyster ( C. tulipa) spat on coconut shell cultches. Six densities (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 spat per coconut shell of an average surface area of approximately 92 cm2) were tested. Performance of spat was measured in terms of growth (increase in shell height), survival and dry meat weight production at the various densities. The results indicate that growth declined with increasing stocking density, but differences in growth rates were not significant. Survival and dry meat yields, however, did not show a descending or ascending trend with increasing density. These parameters were best at stocking density of 4 spat per coconut shell. In all the three parameters studied, performance was better in the second than in the first experiment, due to the smaller mean initial size of the animals in the second experiment. It is recommended that the stocking density of 4 spat per coconut shell be used for oyster culture in the Nakwa Lagoon.

JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION Volume 2 No. 3 (2000) pp. 129-135