Diversification de la production : culture de palourdes sur estran, résultats années 84-85

Following the development of net protection techniques (1980), Japanese clam Ruditapes philippinarum farms develop in the ponds of Charente-Maritime. The county production for 1984 is about 100 tonnes, for a turnover of 4.5 Million Francs. To this day, farmers cultivating clams in ponds over a full cycle get better growth results during the first year. The size of 24 mm is obtained with a density of 200 individuals per square metre. However, due to the type of water input in ponds and to the limited primary production developing in the latter, it appears that biomasses in farms during the second year should not be greater than 0.5 to 1 kg per m² (30 to 50 clams per m²). Thus, the development of clam culture in marsh areas comes to a halt, as farmers are limited by the surface of their farm and by the maintenance costs of the swamp.