Production potential of tidal flats for blood clam (Anadara granosa) culture in Bang-tabun bay, Phetchaburi province

Abstract

Production potential of blood clam (Anadara granosa) in Bang-tabun Bay was examined by integrating data for size distribution, growth rate, and aquatic environmental factors. Collection of data was conducted from December 2011 to May 2012. Blood clam culture areas from three muddy tidal flats; Don Bon flat, Don Klang flat, and Don Tuen flat located from the north to the south of the bay, respectively, were studied. Length and weight of clams at each station varied each month depending on the growth potential of the clam and culture management practices of farmers. The growth rate of blood clam throughout this study period ranged from 0.1-0.8 g/month. The results revealed significant correlations between blood clam growth rate, chlorophyll a and salinity. Blood clam growth rate was most rapid at the station on Don Tuen flat, which exhibited the highest overall salinity and chlorophyll a. Don Klang flat and Don Bon flat can be adversely affected by freshwater runoff and food availability limiting the utility of these areas. Overall results indicate that among the three muddy tidal flats selected for this study, Don Tuen flat is the most suitable area for blood clam culture.

Influence of Environmental Factors on Blood Cockle Production Potential at Klong Khone, Samut Songkharm Province and Bang Taboon, Phetchaburi Province

“…The result of this study showed that when the salinity of seawater was higher than 19 psu, the production potential of cockles was quite high and the growth rate of cockle was 0.86-4.68 g/month ( Table 4) . Our results are in agreement with the research on the production potential of tidal flats for blood clam (Anadara granosa) culture in Bang Taboon Bay, Petchaburi province by Srisomwong et al [10]. They reported that the optimum salinity level for cockle growth was approximately 20 psu.…”

“…In this study, blood cockle growth rate (g/month) was evaluated for the production potential of cockles [10]. Blood cockle size was determined by measuring three shell axes as length, height and width (Figure 2) as described by Şahı̇n et al [11].…”

“…It was found that for naturally cockle sites, chlorophyll a in seawater was between 0-54 μg/l [21,27,39]. Srisomwong et al [10] found that the optimum chlorophyll a for cockle growth was approximately 15 μg/l. Our results were in accordance with this research which revealed that the lowest growth rate occurred in an area of chlorophyll a containing only 10.01 μg/l ( Table 4) .…”