TITLE:
Spatio-Temporal and Bathymetric Variability in the Intensity of Crassostrea tulipa Spat Collection in the Village of Niodior (Saloum Delta, Senegal)
AUTHORS:
Ibrahima Thiao, Éric Tamigneaux, Pierre-Olivier Fontaine, Jean Fall, Abdou Karim Houménou, Malick Diouf
KEYWORDS:
Spat Collection, Oyster, Mangrove, Saloum Delta
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.15 No.10,
October
27,
2025
ABSTRACT: In Senegal, natural stocks of Crassostrea tulipa mangrove oysters are overexploited and oyster farming is very underdeveloped. The development of oyster farming in the mangrove ecosystems of Senegal and West Africa requires the modernization of techniques, both for spat collection and for grow-out in oyster beds. The objective of this study was to assess the seasonal and bathymetric variability of spat collection. To do this, limed cups were deployed every three months between November 2021 and November 2022 at two contrasting sites. Spat collection was observed during the four quarterly periods and was more intense during the rainy season. Alternately submerged collectors showed the best collection rates (53 ± 28 spats per cup) compared to permanently submerged collectors (2 ± 2 spats per cup) and observations indicate that exposure of collectors to air at low tide limited predation and the development of marine fouling. When comparing the sites, spat collection was better at Baobab Rasta for permanently submerged collectors and, conversely, at Akat for collectors that were alternately submerged and exposed.