Mass Seed Production of Ark Shell, Scapharca broughtonii in a 100m³ Outdoor Tank

Abstract

Seed production of ark shell, Scapharca broughtonii in Japan is traditionally carried out in high density-, small-sized tanks (1 m³) . This system is labor-intensive and requires expensive equipments ; these two factors constitute constraints to mass seed production. In this experiments the feasibility of a labor-saving protocol using a 100 m³ tank for mass seed production was examined. Survival rates during seed production using the new and traditional protocols were 33 and 23-31 %, respectively. Average shell lengths with the new and traditional protocols were 1, 400 and 775 μm respectively. These results suggest the feasibility and possible superiolity of mass seed production of S. broughtonii in large-sized tanks.