Observations sur le captage et la croissance de l'huitre creuse ouest-africaine, Crassostrea gasar , en Casamance, Senegal

The study was carried out at two sites, the island of Carabane, near the ocean, and the village of Djivent, 60 km by water-way from the mouth of the Casamance River. On the first site, the rise of water temperature commands the spat fall from March to October with a maximum peak in July. Because of a heavy biological competition, oysters can only survive within the intertidal zone. On the second site from August to November, which corresponds with the end of the rainy season, the decrease of salinity induces spawning and settlement of young oysters. Because of the heavy salinity variations there is a weak biological competition and young oyster can easily survive in permanent immersion as within the intertidal zone. On both sites, the growth is linear but tends to decrease during the breeding season. The different results involve the practice of two distinct cultivation techniques which can be used as a reference in future oyster farming.