CULTURE OF OSTREA CHILENSIS PHILIPPI 1845 IN A NORTH CENTRAL CHILEAN COASTAL BAY

Abstract

Hatchery produced seed of Ostrea chilensis were cultured in Herradura Bay (30°S), Chile, employing Japanese growout
technology. The oysters grcwata rateofapproximately 0.17 mm perday onegroup reachingcommercial sizeof about
50 mm within one year after setting. In a subsequent six months, thickening of shells occurred with small increases in
shell lenght. Survival of the cultures exceeded 60% over an 18 month period. The culture was adversely affected by
fisheries waste, and shell boring by Polydora sp. (Polychaeta: Spionidae).