The Status of the Pacific Oyster, Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793), Population in the Busse Lagoon, Sakhalin Island

Abstract

The status of the aggregation of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793) in the Busse Lagoon (Sakhalin Island) was assessed in 2019. The uncontrolled harvesting of this bivalve species caused its abundance to decline. The total oyster stock in the lagoon is estimated at 24.1 t; the commercial stock is estimated at 3.8 t; the aggregation is dominated (84.4%) by nonharvestable individuals with a shell height smaller than 120 mm. For the conservation of the C. gigas population, it is suggested to restrict any use of oyster beds for 2–3 years until a new generation of oysters is produced.