SPAT COLLECTION, GROWTH AND ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS IN MUSSEL (MYTILUS EDULIS L.) IN TWO SCOTTISH SEA LOCHS

Spat collection, growth and associated problems in mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) in two Scottish Sea Lochs

Sedat Karayücel, Ismihan Karayücel

University of Ondokuz Mayıs, Faculty of Fisheries 57000 Sinop, TURKEY

Abstract

A spat collection experiment was conducted to determine mussel spat settlement, spat growth and the problems of spat collection at ,depth of 2 m and 6 m in Loch Etive (LE) and Loch Kishorn (LK) on the west coast of Scotland. The results showed that neither depth nor site had a significant effect on temperature, seston, particulate organic matter and chlorophyll-a, while salinity was found to be significantly higher in LE than LK (P<0.001). There was a single peak in spat settlement in LE and two peaks in LK. Spat settlement took place in June-July in LE and in June-December in LK. There was a uniform spat settlement and growth in LE, although there were fouling organisms (sea squirt and starfish) which affected spat collection and growth of seed mussels in LK. The results also demonstrated that if polypropylene ropes had been suspended one or two months before than predicted spat settlement time they might be used as efficient spat collector.

Keywords: Mussel, spat collection, growth