It is established experimentally that the inshore areas of the Gulf of
Mannar and Palk Bay bordering Mandapam Camp can profitably be
used for mother oyster culture and cultured pearl production.
The depth of the inshore waters of the Gulf of Mannar is
comparatively deeper where the raft culture can be adopted from
November to May. whereas, the nearshore waters of Palk Bay is shallow where rack can be used to farm the oysters from June to October, thus a continued farming is
possible in all months in a calender year.
Though the hydrological and environmental conditions of both the
seas are almost same, it is found that Gulf of Mannar is better suited
for mother oyster culture as indicated by the better growth rates
of spat and oysters. If farming is done properly,
high survival rates of spat, mother oysters and implanted oysters can
be achieved with an enhanced rate of production of better quality
cultured pearls
