Culture of the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin 1971) in Rio Lagartos, Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract

This research was done with the purpose to ascertain the biological feasibility of the culture of Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin 1971) at Rio Lagartos lagoon in Yucatán, México. Spat from two localities of the Golfo de México were grown in Nestier boxes: spat from Tamiahua, Veracruz, which had an initial average height of 22.50 ± 5.10 (SD) mm and initial total wet weight of 2.90 ± 1.64 g and spat from Mecoacán, Tabasco, that were 32.05 ± 4.50 mm and 5.53 ± 0.03 g, respectively. Both groups of oysters reached commercial size after 10 months of culture. Veracruz spat reached 65.00 ± 6.80 mm in height and 33.26 ± 7.02 g in total wet weight. Those from Tabasco reached 62.90 ± 6.70 mm in height and 33.97 ± 9.95 g in total wet weight. The mean physiological condition index for oysters from Tabasco was 5.96% and from Veracruz was 4.52%. Total survival rate was 63% for spat from Veracruz and 55% from Tabasco. Environmental conditions in the culture area proved to be favourable for the rearing of C. virginica.