Publication Date

1985

Series Number

Fisheries Report no 71

Publisher

Fisheries Department, Western Australia

City

Perth

ISBN

0 7309 0670 l

ISSN

0726 0733

Abstract

A three year investigation into the cause of abnormally high mortality rates of the pearl oyster, Pinctada maxima, on the cultured pearl industry's lease sites in the North West of Western Australia was completed on 30 June 71983. The objective of this study was to determine environmental, physiological and pathological factors predisposing farm oysters to excessive Levels of mortality and, if possible, make recommendations to alleviate this problem.

As mass mortalities may have complex causes, complementary field and laboratory studies were instigated. The culture industry's method of collection, transportation and farm husbandry were examined. Environmental parameters were monitored. Various empirical treatments were made on test lots of oyster to fine out the effects on oyster mortality of factors such as the seasonal period during which they were transported to the lease site after collection, and the depth and density conditions under which they were then maintained. laboratory research included comparisons of the physiological condition of oysters kept under different temperature regimes as well as pathological procedures aimed at identifying causative disease agents.

Number of Pages

80

Keywords

Pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima), Western Australia, Oyster mortality

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Data Science | Marine Biology | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Survival Analysis | Sustainability

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