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Growth and survival of Noah's ark shell (Arca Noae LINNAEUS 1758.) in experimental aquaculture

The Noah’s ark shell Arca noae Linnaeus, 1758 is one of the most important commercially exploited bivalve species along the eastern Adriatic coast. High harvesting pressure as consequence of increasing market demands in future could result with overexploitation of natural populations in some areas. All mentioned above together with high market price, make A. noae a possible candidate for introduction into aquaculture. Experiment was set up in November 2009 to test the ability of A. noae for survival and growth under the different experimental aquaculture conditions. Total of 378 A. noae specimens were collected from natural population in the Pašman channel were measured (mean length ± st. dev. = 46.2±12.1 mm), marked with mollusc tags, divided into six samples, placed in nylon net and two of them suspended at each of three different locations. Location L1 was in the Pašman channel – area where this species exist in natural population, location L2 beside the fish farm cages and location L3 60 m away from the fish farm on Pašman island. Every three months during the period of one year lengths of A. noae were measured and mortality was monitored. A. noae show high mortality and only 72 specimens survived the whole experiment. Mortality was highest on the beginning of the experiment probably due the collection of A. noae and manipulation during the marking process. Annual mean growth (ΔL) was highest on location L2 (ΔL =2.53±2.98mm) while on the location L1 and L3 observed growth rates were simirar ΔL =1.31±1.21mm and ΔL =1.06±1.23mm, respectively. Slow growth of A. noae could be related to rearing technique used in the experiment. Data presented here are preliminary data and it is necessary to make additional experiments with larger samples and with different techniques for A. noae culture, in order to asses weather this species is a suitable candidate for commercial aquaculture.

growth; experimental aquaculture; Arca noae

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