A preliminary assessment of growth rates of mussels from the Falkland Islands (Mytilus chilensis Hupe and Aulacomya ater (Molina))

1 May 1984

journal article
Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in ICES Journal of Marine Science

Vol. 41 (2) , 154-158
https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/41.2.154

Abstract

Shells of specimens of Mylilus chilensis and Aulacomya ater collected from the SS “Great Britain” (from 1937 to 1970 a hulk in the Falkland waters) have been analysed. Growth in both species was slow; Mytilus chilensis apparently took 7 to 8 years to reach 50 mm shell length (L_max = 78 mm) while Aulacomya ater took 10 to 11 years to attain the same size. Low monthly water temperatures (mean 5·8^°C) are probably primarily responsible for the slow growth. However, it is not absolutely certain that the experimental animals were subtidal, so aerial emersion may have slowed growth; density effects or poor food supply may also have contributed. It is concluded that mussel growth in the Falkland waters is probably too slow for successful commercial cultivation.

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