The effect of sock spacing on the productivity of ...
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| Title | The effect of sock spacing on the productivity of mussel on a longline system |
| Author(s) | A. Drapeau, L. Comeau, T. Landry, H. Stryhn, J. Davidson |
| Date | 2007 |
| Publisher | Gulf Fisheries Centre |
| Place published | Moncton, N.B. |
| Pages | 22 |
| Abstract | In suspended blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) culture, the link between sock spacing and mussel performance on a longline system has never been experimentally demonstrated. Therefore, the objective of this trial was to compare productivity of mussel socks spaced (sock spacing treatments [Tx]) 10 cm, 20 cm, 40 cm, 60 cm and 80 cm apart on a longline. A large-scale experiment was conducted in distinct leases of Tracadie Bay, PEI over a one-year production cycle. Shell growth and survival of premarket mussels were positively associated with higher sock spacing treatments, while condition index displayed no temporal and spatial relations to sock spacing treatments. In two of the four experimental sites, results showed significantly greater growth and survival levels on mussel socks spaced 80 cm apart (i.e. Tx 80) at the end of the production cycle. Shell growth increased by 8% (3.4 mm) and 7% (3.4 mm), while survival was 42% (233 mussels/m) and 18% (87 mussels/m) higher when comparing low density levels (Tx 80) to high density levels (Tx 10) of cultured mussels. When all management strategies (i.e. socking density and seed size) were kept constant, the association between sock spacing treatments and productivity were non-significant. The significant differences between sock spacing treatments at two of the four sites may be due to high initial socking density and smaller seed size. Sites displaying significant associations were respectively characterized by having 58% and 47% more mussels per meter, while seed mussels were 46% and 23% smaller. Dense aggregation of bivalves at the farm level and inside mussel socks may lead to intra-specific competition between individuals as food demand at the local scale may exceed food supply and ultimately limit growth. Food levels at the local scale were not measured during this study, but are documented to be highly variable temporally and spatially within this growing area. |
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