Shellfish Breeding and Hatchery Management (2+1)

20.1.2. Seed packing methods and transportation

Normally seeds can be packed in two methods, viz.,

1. Oxygen inflated bags
2. Drums with oxygen supplied from the cylinder

Among the above two methods, oxygen inflated bags with sufficient water is considered good due to their advantages like reduced damages to the seeds and easy handling. Further the seeds are in batches in bags and therefore even if mass mortality occurs that will affect only lesser number of seeds in the whole lot. In the drum it may affect the whole lot of seeds that are packed in the drum.

The seeds can be transported in a carrier either in inflated bags or in oxygen supplied drums for distances to be determined based on the following:

1. External temperature
2. Number of seeds in the bag
3. Size of the seeds
4. Metabolic wastes that are released by the seeds
5. Nature of the seeds (cannibals or compatible)
6. The possibility for repacking en route