Essai de culture de l'huître plate Ostrea edulis dans le bassin d'Arcachon. Résultats préliminaires

From 1988 to 1989, a study has been conducted pertaining to the growth of the flat oyster Ostrea edulis, as well as Marteilia refringens and Bonamia ostreae outbreaks. Commercial mono specific farming (flat oysters), with low density or mixed (flat and hollow oysters) along with higher density, has been taking place in the Arcachon basin oceanographic sectors, where main hydrobiological parameters were acquired simultaneously. The excellent growth of the flat oyster was witnessed in mono specific farming. However this growth was average in mixed farming, probably due to higher total oyster density and interspecies competition. Regardless of the type of farming, Marteilia refringens infection was very quick and may have been related to climatic bay water conditions. Bonamia ostceae infection, although occurring much later on, is no less disturbing. The success of a potential flat oyster farming renewal plan in the Arcachon basin remains uncertain on account of those two persistent parasitoses found in the bay. However, several factors enable us to take into consideration flat oyster farming on a small scale. This strategy would mainly depend on mollusk growth conditions which need to be optimum in order to limit the effects of parasitoses.