Settlement of Bivalve Spat on Artificial Collectors (Net Bags) in Two Commercial Mussel Parks in the North-Western Adriatic Sea

Tihana Marčeta,Valentina Francesca Codognotto,Monica Bressan,Maria Gabriella Marin

doi:10.3390/jmse10020210

Tihana Marčeta, Valentina Francesca Codognotto + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10020210

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Abstract

Among aquaculture activities, shellfish culture is considered more sustainable and beneficial in terms of food security. Currently, only a few bivalve species are reared and there is a need to explore the possibility to introduce new candidates for shellfish farming. Due to the lack of information on bivalve recruitment in the North-Western Adriatic Sea, in this study, the possibility to collect natural spat of commercial species was investigated. Artificial collectors (net bags) were deployed in two sites, Pellestrina and Caleri (North-Western Adriatic Sea), within two commercial mussel parks, during the spring–summer and summer–autumn periods. At both sites, collectors were placed at a distance of 1 m from each other, from 5 to 14 m depth. The influence of season, site and depth on bivalve recruitment was inspected and the presence of invasive species was also evaluated. In all, 28 bivalve taxa were found, and a higher settlement rate was observed in summer–autumn compared to the spring–summer period. Mytilus galloprovincialis, Flexopecten glaber, Mimachlays varia and Aequipecten opercularis were the most abundant species in spring–summer. In the summer–autumn period, in both sites analysed, a very high quantity of Anadara transversa and F. glaber were found. Indeed, these species were dominant at Pellestrina and Caleri, respectively. Another non-indigenous species, Arcuatula senhousia, was also detected. Relevant amounts of Pectinidae spat, F. glaber in particular, were collected and the optimal depth range for the scallop spat collection was found to be between 8 and 14 m. Our results highlight the relevant potential of Pectinidae spat collection along the North-Western Adriatic coasts, even though the presence of invasive species needs to be monitored.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilThe natural bivalve populations of the North Adriatic Sea are subject to intense fishing efforts
In this study 28 bivalve taxa were identified on the 140 collectors analysed and the total number of taxa was similar between sites (21 in Pellestrina I and II, 22 taxa in Caleri)
The bivalve community of the North Adriatic Sea, described following a hydraulic dredge survey, showed a higher diversity (54 taxa) [69]. This confirms that net bags are more suitable for sessile bivalve recruitment

Summary

Introduction

Introduction published maps and institutional affilThe natural bivalve populations of the North Adriatic Sea are subject to intense fishing efforts. The main commercial species in the Adriatic Sea (striped venus clam, Chamelea gallina, smooth clam, Callista chione, Mediterranean scallop, Pecten jacobaeus and queen scallop, A. opercularis) are fished by hydraulic dredges and rapido trawls [1,2]. These fishing gears have a heavy impact on the seabed, change its morphology, damage benthic organisms and fauna, tend to over-exploit the target species and significantly increase the mortality of non-target species [3,4]. As for the latter issue, an increase in cultured shellfish products might iations

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