Incubators (picture not from Almar)
Broodstock conditioning tank of hard clams, kept for 6-8 weeks at 18 C in refrigerated recirculating system (one total water renewal per day) and fed cultured algae continuously (photo © Artemia Reference Center, Ghent University, Belgium) |
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Reproduction takes place in the so-called “schiuditoio" from September to May. “Schiuditoio” is a type of incubator where, under human control, seed destined to be farmed in the lagoon environment is produced. At this stage, the actual seed dimension is but a few millimetres. The first feed is made up of small marine algae known as phytoplankton, which can be farmed in tailor made plants (algal production vats). Production of these marine unicellular algae accounts for 40% of the total costs incurred by a farm in the reproduction of the species.
After ten days of such feeding the larva are sent to the nursery where they continue to feed on phytoplankton. During their growth they can be separated using calibrated sieves, counted and graded. When they reach 2.5 millimetres in size, they move them outside, where their growth is continued until they reach the required 10 millimetres in size necessary for seeding them. ALMAR has one schiuditoio for molluscs (about 2.000 m2 of closed space) and one water treatment plant for phytoplankton production. |
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