Trial farming the akoya pearl oyster, Pinctada imbricata, in Port Stephens, NSW Wayne A. O’Connor, Norman F. Lawler & Michael P. Heasman NSW Fisheries Port Stephens Fisheries Centre Private Bag 1, Nelson Bay, NSW, 2315, Australia Final Report to Australian Radiata Pty Ltd January 2003 NSW Fisheries Final Report Series No. 42 ISSN 1440-3544 Trial farming the akoya pearl oyster, Pinctada imbricata, in Port Stephens, NSW Wayne A. O’Connor, Norman F. Lawler & Michael P. Heasman NSW Fisheries Port Stephens Fisheries Centre Private Bag 1, Nelson Bay, NSW, 2315, Australia Final Report to Australian Radiata Pty Ltd January 2003 NSW Fisheries Final Report Series No. 42 ISSN 1440-3544 Table of Contents i TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................................. I ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................................ III 1. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY ................................................................................................................ 5 1.1. Background .................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2. Need ............................................................................................................................................... 5 1.3. Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 6 1.4. Summary of findings ...................................................................................................................... 6 1.4.1. Reproductive Condition ...................................................................................................... 6 1.4.2. Growth and Nacre Quality Trials ....................................................................................... 7 1.4.3. Temperature and Salinity Tolerance .................................................................................. 7 1.4.4. Emersion Tolerance (Air Exposure) ................................................................................... 8 1.4.5. Relaxants............................................................................................................................. 8 1.4.6. Predators and Pests............................................................................................................ 8 1.4.7. Hatchery Production and Farming..................................................................................... 9 1.4.8. Biodeposition .................................................................................................................... 10 1.4.9. Pinctada albina................................................................................................................. 10 2. PINCTADA IMBRICATA ........................................................................................................................ 12 2.1. Reproductive condition of the pearl oyster, Pinctada imbricata Röding in Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia................................................................................................................. 12 2.1.1. Introduction and Taxonomy.............................................................................................. 12 2.1.2. Materials and Methods .....................................................................................................14 2.1.3. Results............................................................................................................................... 17 2.1.4. Discussion......................................................................................................................... 22 2.2. Growth and nacre quality in the pearl oyster Pinctada imbricata, in south-eastern Australia...... 26 2.2.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 26 2.2.2. Materials and Methods .....................................................................................................26 2.2.3. Results............................................................................................................................... 29 2.2.4. Discussion......................................................................................................................... 37 2.3. Salinity and temperature tolerance in the pearl oyster, Pinctada imbricata................................. 41 2.3.1. Abstract............................................................................................................................. 41 2.3.2. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 41 2.3.3. Materials and Methods .....................................................................................................42 2.3.4. Results............................................................................................................................... 43 2.3.5. Discussion......................................................................................................................... 46 2.4. Emersion tolerance of pearl oyster, Pinctada imbricata Röding, spat and juveniles ................... 52 2.4.1. Abstract............................................................................................................................. 52 2.4.2. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 52 2.4.3. Materials and Methods .....................................................................................................53 2.4.4. Results............................................................................................................................... 55 2.4.5. Discussion......................................................................................................................... 58 2.5. Propylene phenoxetol as a relaxant for the pearl oysters Pinctada imbricata and Pinctada albina ........................................................................................................................................... 60 2.5.1. Abstract............................................................................................................................. 60 2.5.2. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 60 2.5.3. Materials and Methods .....................................................................................................60 2.5.4. Results............................................................................................................................... 62 2.5.5. Discussion......................................................................................................................... 66 2.6. Halotolerance of the oyster predator, Imogine mcgrathi, a stylochid flatworm from Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia......................................................................................................... 68 2.6.1. Abstract............................................................................................................................. 68 2.6.2. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 68 2.6.3. Materials and Methods .....................................................................................................69 Final Report to Australian Radiata Pty Ltd O’Connor et al. ii List of Tables 2.6.4. Results ...............................................................................................................................72 2.6.5. Discussion .........................................................................................................................75 2.7. Predation of cultured mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, by stylochid flatworms, Imogine mcgrathi, from Twofold Bay, New South Wales, Australia .........................................................77 2.7.1. Abstract .............................................................................................................................77 2.7.2. Introduction.......................................................................................................................77 2.7.3. Materials and Methods......................................................................................................78 2.7.4. Results ...............................................................................................................................79 2.7.5. Discussion .........................................................................................................................81 3. TECHNIQUES FOR HATCHERY PRODUCTION AND GROWOUT OF THE AKOYA PEARL OYSTER, PINCTADA IMBRICATA........................................................................................................ 84 3.1. General Introduction.....................................................................................................................84 3.2. Hatchery and Nursery Culture ......................................................................................................84 3.3. Broodstock and husbandry............................................................................................................85