Growth and biometric relationship of pearl oyster Pinctada fucata (Gould)

Abstract

The Indian pearl oyster, Pinctadafucata (Gould) produced in the hatchery and grown at the protected farm at Tuticorin Harbour, attains a dorsoventral length of 47.0, 64.0 and 75.0 mm at the end of 12th, 24tb and 36th months and the corresponding averages in weight are 8.3, 31.6 and 45.4 g. The estimated von Bertalanffy growth parameters are £- oc a: 79.31 ram, K = 0.0757 per month and t^ = 0.44 months. Relationships between total weight, shell weight, flesh weight and dry weight of flesh and length with depth were found by least square techniques.