Larval dispersal and recruitment in the marine environment are complex processes, influenced by a multitude of physical and biological factors. The national spat collection program will generate significant livelihood benefits across Fiji and support continued expansion of the Fijian cultured pearl industry.įisheries and aquaculture industries worldwide remain reliant on seed supply from wild populations, with their success and sustainability dependent on consistent larval recruitment. Results identified sites supporting high levels of pearl oyster recruitment as a basis for an ongoing national spat collection program, and support better targeting of spat collection activities that maximise oyster supply to the Fijian pearl industry. margaritifera based on greater levels of recruitment at these sites. penguin have greater tolerance of more turbid inshore sites than P. penguin ranged from 7.53 cm to 13.62 cm across sites. penguin were collected from all sites, with the highest number of recruits (495) recorded from Namarai (Viti Levu). margaritifera recruitment during the study and these were generally sites with relatively turbid water. margaritifera at any site was 8.61 ± 0.30 cm while the smallest was 4.26 ± 0.13 cm. The largest mean dorso-ventral measurement (DVM) of P. margaritifera juveniles were collected from all sites with the highest number of recruits (693) and the highest number of recruits per collector (2.10 ± 0.17) occurring at Nacobau (Vanua Levu). Spat collectors were deployed for a period of 10–15 months when the number of pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera and Pteria penguin) spat attached to each collector was counted and shell size recorded. Spat collectors consisted of a 100 m longline from which 310 individual spat collectors were suspended. Twenty-nine sites across Fiji were used in this study. This supply can be inconsistent and a research program was implemented to determine recruitment of pearl oysters to spat collectors at sites throughout Fiji as a basis for developing a national spat collection program to improve reliability of oyster supply to the industry. Cultured pearl farming in Fiji relies on wild spat collection to supply the oysters used for pearl production.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |