The purpose of the work is to determine the duration of larvae’s presence in the plankton, the periods of their mass development, and the onset of settlement on the substrate: these data serve as the basis for recommendations regarding the timing of placing collectors in farms.
The events begin at the beginning of the 21st century in the remote area of the Amur Bay ‑ in the waters of the northwestern part of Russian Island and the Stark Strait. From the end of May to August, scientists collect and analyze plankton samples weekly at six stations.
The monitoring results show that in the island zone of the Amur Bay, the seaside scallop and Pacific mussel are the most promising for industrial harvesting of juveniles — collectors for them are recommended to be installed no later than the end of May or the beginning of June. The larvae of the Pacific oyster form significant aggregations in the northern shallow part of the Amur Bay and the bays of Posyeta Bay.
In addition, experiments in recent years have confirmed that the island zone is excellent for growing juvenile oysters in cages, which are produced at the Innovative Scientific and Production Center for Mariculture on Popov Island. An increase in surface water temperature against the background of changing climatic conditions is becoming a favorable factor for oyster cultivation in the entire water area of Peter the Great Bay.
VNIRO Press Service
