Perspectives for development of low impact aquaculture in a Western Mediterranean lagoon: the case of the carpet clam Tapes decussatus

Abstract

Abstract. Some 30,000 specimens of the Mediterranean clam Tapes decussatus were suspended in nylon bags of two different mesh sizes and pre-grown in the Calich lagoon (Sardinia, Italy) from March to June 2001. The samples differed in size at the end of the pre-growth stage. They were then sown at a density of 650 specimens m )2 in two stations of the lagoon. The growth rates in the stations were different according to the Von Bertalanffy model. Primary and secondary plankton production was calculated by field measurements as well as by modelling. The results indicate that the Calich lagoon could produce a maximum of 753.25 g m )2 yr )1 WW, with shell, for Tapes decussatus. Our culture experiments lasted 15 months with an estimated mortality of 50% and the yield of T. decussatus was 4.3 times greater than the calculated natural production.

Growth and survival rates of carpet shell clam (Tapes decussatus Linnaeus, 1758) using various culture methods in Sufa (Homa) Lagoon, Izmir, Turkey

“…In Turkey, this species is distr ibuted along the coastline of Aegean, Mediterranean and Marmara Seas. Th is species is a leading candidate for aquaculture in Turkish waters, similar ly to other Mediterranean lagoons (Chessa et al, 2005).…”

The Growth and Survival of Carpet Clam, Ruditapes decussatus in Çardak Estuary (Çanakkale Strait, Northwest Turkey)

“…For example, Serdar et al (2007) reported 48% survival rate for R. decussatus after 12 months in Homa estuary, İzmir, in western Turkey. Chessa, Paesanti, Pais, Scardi, Serra & Vitale (2005) reported a survival rate of 50% for R. decussatus in Calich Estuary, Italy, at the end of 15 months. Typically, a 50% survival rate was reported for manila clam juveniles until they reach commercial size in Italy (Sladonja, Bettoso, Zentilin, Tamberlich & Acquavita, 2011).…”

Molluscs and echinoderms aquaculture: biological aspects, current status, technical progress and future perspectives for the most promising species in Italy

“…In Europe, the harvesting of Venerupis decussata mainly occurs in countries like Spain and France, but also in Italy, especially in Sardinia, where the semi-extensive culture of the allochthonous species Venerupis philippinarum has been banned by the Regional Government in order to protect the native Mediterranean carpet clam (Chessa et al, 2005;Pais et al, 2006b).…”

“…Furthermore, a number of successful trials have demonstrated the feasibility of rearing this bivalve in different European countries (Walne, 1976;Breber, 1985;Pastore et al, 1996) using different culture techniques in the sea as well as in coastal lagoons (Chessa et al, 1998(Chessa et al, , 2005Pais et al, 2006b;Serdar et al, 2007).…”