Aquaculture & Fisheries

Biography

Biography: Eunice A Layugan

Abstract

Batissa violacea is a freshwater clam that is commercially important species and prevalent in Cagayan River, Philippines. This clam is the most expensive freshwater clam in Northern Philippines that supports the food supply and economic livelihood of many coastal communities. The population of this species in the wild has been dwindling due to over-exploitation and environmental changes. This study has been conducted to determine the potential of culturing the filter-feeding freshwater clam, B. violacea, with Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) strain of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. For 120 days, the growth performance of clam juveniles (initial shell length: 31-35 mm) was compared under two culture methods: (1) monoculture with stocking density of 25 clam/m3 (T1),50 clam/m3 (T2), 100 clam/m3 (T3), and 200 clam/m3 (T4);and (2) polyculture in combination with GIFT fingerlings (initial average weight: 10g) added at 20 fish/m3 on each clam stocking density treatment (T1-T4) similar to those in monoculture. The treatments for monoculture and polyculture have three replicates each in Randomized Complete Block Design using 2 x 4 Factorial Design. The results were analyzed using two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The freshwater clam grown in polyculture with tilapia grew faster than those in monoculture. The highest density of 200 clams/m3 (T4) in both polyculture and monoculture showed significantly lower shell length growth compared with the lowest stocking density at 25 clams/m3 (T1); but no significant difference (p>0.05) was found with the stocking densities at 50 clams/m3 (T2) and 100 clams/m3 (T3). The average increase in weight of B. violacea was inversely proportional with stocking density, with the highest weight gain recorded at the lowest density of 25clams/m3 (T1). Although there was variation in growth at different stocking densities and culture methods, the interaction effect between two factors was not significant. Survival rate of B. violaceain polyculture, ranged from 94-97%; while in monoculture, the survival rate ranged from 94-96%. Biomass production was directly related to stocking density in both culture methods.