| In areas where oyster or mussel culture is very intensive, declines of growth rate and decreases of survival rate have occurred. For these reasons, plans have been proposed to regulate the cultivated biomasses in order to fit the carrying capacity of the different ecosystems (Heral et al 1990; Heral, 1991). In areas where new aquaculture of molluscs is beginning, oyster or mussel farmers need to know how large the extension of the culture could be and what the maximal densities should be in order to obtain the maximum economic benefit. Furthermore, as mollusc cultures are developed in coastal areas, they are very susceptible to changes in environmental conditions that can modify trophic relationships, or directly reduce growth rate, physiological... |
