Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons^™

Oyster Spatfall In Virginia Rivers: 1983 Annual Summary, James Whitcomb

Reports

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) conducts weekly surveys from June through early October to obtain oyster spatfall information. Spat counts are made on oyster shells strung on wire and suspended from stakes on public and private beds. The number of spat on shells are counted each week of ~:he spawning season to determine the potential of a particular area for receiving a strike and to predict the most likely period tile strikes will occur. A moderate or heavy strike on shellstrings usually indicates a significant strike on exposed bottom clutch. This is especially true for clutch planted a …