Optimum stocking density for nursery culture of Sydney rock oysters (Saccostrea commercialis)

Growth rates of juvenile Sydney rock oysters ( Saccostrea commercialis ) declined with increasing stocking density ( P 2 ) for oysters with average initial whole weights of 0.09, 1.15 and 1.56 g/oyster were obtained at densities of 15 200, 7200 and 3600 oysters/m 2 , in that order. The estimated survival rate of oysters during the 12-month study was high (97.5%).