Lingfei Jin

Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Marine Science, 2026, Vol. 16, No. 2   
Received: 18 Jan., 2026    Accepted: 23 Feb., 2026    Published: 07 Mar., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Stocking density is a key ecological and managerial factor influencing the performance and sustainability of bivalve aquaculture. This study investigated the effects of different stocking densities on the growth performance and survival rate of Chlamys farreri under controlled culture conditions. A gradient of stocking densities was established to evaluate variations in shell growth, body weight gain, specific growth rate, and survival dynamics. Results indicated that stocking density significantly affected both growth performance and survival outcomes. Moderate density treatments generally promoted optimal growth by balancing resource availability and metabolic demand, while excessively high densities led to reduced growth rates, likely due to intensified competition for food, decreased water exchange efficiency, and increased accumulation of metabolic wastes. Survival rates exhibited a declining trend with increasing density, with density-induced stress and susceptibility to disease identified as key contributing factors. Environmental parameters such as dissolved oxygen and particulate food availability further modulated density-dependent responses. A case-based comparison across different aquaculture systems highlighted the importance of adaptive density management strategies in improving production efficiency. Overall, the findings suggest that optimizing stocking density is essential for maximizing growth performance and ensuring high survival rates in Chlamys farreri aquaculture, providing practical implications for sustainable shellfish farming.

Stocking density; Chlamys farreri; Growth performance; Survival rate; Aquaculture management