Study on Optimal Condition for Oyster Rack Culture in terms of tidal exposure and rack height in Wando Coast, Korea

Abstract

We investigated the growth performance of oysters (initial shell height 57.5 ± 8.5 mm) under differing conditions of tidal exposure time and culture rack height in an experiment that commenced in April, 2011. Significant differences were observed in shell height from June 2011, in total weight from August, and in meat weight from September. Fatness tended to decrease during the experimental period, but was not significantly different at the end of the experiment. Significant differences in survival rates were mainly observed from June to August. After September, further changes were not observed in any experimental treatment group. The greatest growth potential (L ∞ ) and survival rate were observed at a sea level of approximately 116 cm. The results indicate that in the study area the use of oyster culture conditions involving 1 or 2 h of tidal exposure and 60 -70 cm rack height could result in oysters reaching the favored commercial half shell size within 14 months, with > 80% survival.

Estimation of primary production of the waters around rack oyster farm at Wando, Korea

“…This area was previously well known for Porphyra aquaculture. Annual production in this region accounted for~22% of national production in South Korea; however, an environmental change linked to changing demographic and industrial development means that Porphyra aquaculture has ceased in the tidal flats in Wando (Lee 2006;Han and Cho 2013). As an alternative fishery in the tidal flats, oyster rack culturing was introduced as a pilot project in 2013 (Cho et al 2013a).…”

“…As an alternative fishery in the tidal flats, oyster rack culturing was introduced as a pilot project in 2013 (Cho et al 2013a). Here, we optimized several conditions to achieve the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) in these oyster rack cultures (Han and Cho 2013).…”