How are you, grebeshok?

 

In 2024, the first stage of the large-scale work “Creation of a health protection system for aquaculture facilities based on assessing the risks of disease spread, developing and testing means for their diagnosis, prevention and treatment” was carried out.

 

It is known that when organizing commercial aquaculture of the Japanese scallop, there is a risk of diseases. What causes it?

 

The study of this difficult issue was carried out by employees of two laboratories, the Laboratory of Aquaculture of Invertebrates and Algae (LABIV), and the Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Genetics (LMPG) in the 2024 field season.

 

Two sites were selected for the work: on the territory of the operating mariculture farm and on our own experimental site in Aniva Bay (Sakhalin Island).

 

The specialists had to study the background environmental conditions, the biological state of the sea (coastal) scallop at the testing grounds. To study the intensity and dynamics of spat settling on the collectors, its size characteristics and survival. To determine the composition of the microflora, fauna of epibionts and parasitic organisms of the mollusk at various stages of its growth and development at the testing grounds.

 

To assess the level of natural reproduction of the scallop, a method was chosen for collecting pelagic larvae on an artificial substrate, which was used in the form of bag collectors. Their design was developed and manufactured by the employees of the Laboratory of Aquaculture and Water Resources.

 

At the beginning of summer, specialists set up a collector installation for obtaining spat. In the fall, quantitative and weight processing of each collector was carried out. Then, the size and mass indicators of the mollusk were assessed.

 

To assess the pathogenic potential of representatives of the fauna of endo- and epibionts of mollusks, seasonal sampling of scallops was carried out at the mariculture farm and in natural conditions in Aniva Bay.

 

Water and bottom sediment samples were collected to assess the conditions for the reproduction of the mollusk based on qualitative and quantitative indicators of bacterioplankton and bacteriobenthos.

 

All collected material is currently being processed and analyzed.

 

The young mollusk collected using collectors was released into its natural habitat at a pre-prepared testing site in Aniva Bay.

 

In the 2025 field season, scientists will continue to study the already “mature” scallop.

 

VNIRO Press Service