'Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi'
Abstract
Black lipped pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera
of size ranging from 3 to 40 mm were collected from
the rocky beach of Lawson’s Bay along
Visakhapatnam coast and were reared in the marine
hatchery of the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of
CMFRI. The oysters were reared in 1 t capacity fibre
glass tanks in 32‰ filtered seawater, provided with
continuous aeration and mixed microalgal diet
comprising Isochrysis galbana and Cheatoceros
calcitrans. During the course of domestication for a
period of nearly 22 months, the oysters were regularly
cleaned of fouling and boring organisms at monthly
intervals. The growth was also recorded periodically.
During this period
