Monitoring health conditions of the pacific oyster crassostrea gigas on the southern coast of Korea using varios physiological measurements

Abstract

Physiological condition of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas inhabiting intertidal zones in small bays on the southern coast of Korea were investigated in this study to evaluate the environmental quality of the bays. A total of 450 oysters were collected from 7 sites in Gwangyang Bay and 8 sites in Jinhae Bay during June and July of 2010. Histological analysis revealed that oysters in Gwangyang and Jinhae Bay were mostly in developing stages while oysters in Gwangyang Bay were in more advanced reproductive stages. The survey results presented in this study suggest that overall physiological condition of oysters in Gwangyang Bay was better than that of Jinhae Bay; thus strongly indicating that the environmental quality of Gwangyang Bay is comparatively better.