Dan Minchin Marine Organism Investigations Ireland Coastal Research and Planning Institute, University of Klaipeda, Lithuania. October 2012 An invited presentation at the Linnean Society, London, 2011

Oysters have been in the service of man for a long time: -

Oysters have been in the service of man for a long time: - Easily gathered - High in protien - Can be stored short periods - Might have been traded at an early time

Transmissions that once took months can now take place in hours Minchin & Gollasch 2003

Transmissions that once took months can now take place in hours Stock transmissions are now rapid and cared for, so more likely to survive Minchin 2007

Four species of oyster have been cultivated profitably in Northern Europe Utting & Spencer 1992

Four species of oyster have been cultivated profitably in Northern Europe However other species will have been tried: Ostrea chilensis: Grizel et al., 1982 Tiostrea lutaria: Utting & Spencer 1992, Richardson et al 1993 Crassostrea rhizophorae Utting & Spencer 1992 Crassostrea rivularis Cochennec et al., 1998

Heral 1990

Mass mortality Gill disease Viral disease Martelia Bonamia Heral 1990

The Pacific oyster is widely spread source: FAO

Hokkaido: large flat shells, rapid growth Miyagi: large shell flutes, rapid growth Hiroshima: small purple frilly shells, slow growth Kumamoto: small deep frilly shells, slow growth Arakawa 1990 “angulata” large flat shells, rapid growth

Genetic studies indicate one species Menzel 1974; O’Foighil et al 1998 Crassostrea angulata = C. gigas

Genetic studies indicate one species Similarity with Taiwanese populations Hypothesis: introduced to Portugal 16 th Century HOW INTRODUCED: - Hull fouling - As a ship’s food - Biological curiosity Crassostrea angulata = C. gigas

Evidence it rafted from Chile to New Zealand O’Foighil et al., 1999 Tiostrea lutaria = Ostrea chilensis

New Zealand oyster introduced in 1963 to UK Established N.Wales Utting & Spencer 1992 Introduced to France and destroyed Grizel et al., 1982 Hine et al., 2002 Bonamia exitiosis Evidence it rafted from Chile to New Zealand Tiostrea lutaria = Ostrea chilensis

Early aquaculture involved the placing of tiles on the shore.

Subsequently pond cultivation experiments ensued that include the work of Dodgeson & Sherwood in Conwy. 1870s

Early aquaculture involved the placing of tiles on the shore. Subsequently pond cultivation experiments ensued that include the work of Dodgeson & Sherwood in Conwy. Oyster pond culture for C. gigas in Cork Harbour Hugh-Jones 1870s1970s

Hatchery rearing developed as a result of the early work of Loosanoff & Davis, Cole, Korringa and Walne. Victor Loosanoff

Hatchery rearing developed as a result of the early work of Loosanoff & Davis, Cole, Korringa and Walne. The development is based on improved knowledge of biology and the development of plastics. Victor Loosanoff

Hatchery rearing developed as a result of the early work of Loosanoff & Davis, Cole, Korringa and Walne. The development is based on improved knowledge of biology and the development of plastics. Remote settling involved transport of post larval Stages Bohn et al., 1995 Victor Loosanoff

Recruitment of Pacific oysters taking place and varying levels of intensity

Recruitment of Pacific oysters taking place and varying levels of intensity Spencer et al., 1994; Eno 1996

2000s Oysters start to become a pest in places High atmospheric pressure events may enable sustained high water temperatures Reise, 2008

1970s 2000s Oysters start to become a pest in places High atmospheric pressure events may enable sustained high water temperatures What do you expect!

 'It seems a shame,' the Walrus said, 'To play them such a trick. After we've brought them out so far Oyster reefs occur world-wide: Puget Sound – NE Pacific

Unexpected events often happen with oysters A gill condition was noted in native oysters but some years later appeared in the Pacific oyster.

Unexpected events often happen with oysters A gill condition was noted in native oysters but some years later appeared in the Pacific oyster. Was this also Herrmannella dugganni or was it something else H. Dugganni was named after Colm B. Duggan, oyster biologist in Ireland Holmes & Minchin 1991

Half grown oysters are recognised for carrying many associates. Many of these have far ranging impacts beyond the oyster industry. Species introduced by other means may also have an impact on oysters. There have been several movements that have resulted in importing pests, parasites and disease to Europe

Half grown oysters are recognised for carrying many associates. Many of these have far ranging impacts beyond the oyster industry. Species introduced by other means may also have an impact on oysters. There have been several movements that have resulted in importing pests, parasites and disease to Europe

Half grown oysters are recognised for carrying many associates. Many of these have far ranging impacts beyond the oyster industry. Species introduced by other means may also have an impact on oysters. There have been several movements that have resulted in importing pests, parasites and disease to Europe

Half grown oysters are recognised for carrying many associates. Many of these have far ranging impacts beyond the oyster industry. Species introduced by other means may also have an impact on oysters. There have been several movements that have resulted in importing pests, parasites and disease to Europe

Antifouling agent TBT very toxic to molluscs Oysters developed unmarketable shells

Antifouling agent TBT very toxic to molluscs Oysters developed unmarketable shells National regulation in Britain & Ireland 1987 IMO regulation, not to be used after 2008 Gradual recovery: BUT coastal inlets may now be more invasible. Minchin 2010

Managers need accurate information, they have many things to handle at the one time

Managers need accurate information, they have many things to handle at the one time So: reliable information from monitoring and knowing what to do when there is a problem Minchin 2010

The industry needs to be monitored carefully Need to look in the right place

The industry needs to be monitored carefully Need to look in the right place Several potential problems HABs and toxicity pests and parasites diseases and syndromes

Filter feeding molluscs can concentrate toxins from harmful algae. The industry is carefully regulated to prevent sicknesses by monitoring water and oyster tissues.

Filter feeding molluscs can concentrate toxins from harmful algae. The industry is carefully regulated to prevent sicknesses by monitoring water and oyster tissues. Okadiac acid is produced by Dinophysis spp. and causes Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP)

Blue mussel 19% Pacific oyster 10% Horse mussel 3% Flat oyster 2% Olympic oyster 2% Soft shell clam 2% Surf clams 2% Minchin & Gollasch 2003 Commercial species frequently occur on ship hulls

Blue mussel 19% Pacific oyster 10% Horse mussel 3% Flat oyster 2% Olympic oyster 2% Soft shell clam 2% Surf clams 2% Minchin 1992 Commercial species frequently occur on ship hulls Changes in temperature can result in spawnings in ports Parasites (i.e. Perkensis) may be released

71 auxillary vessels ~16 years moored in oyster area 3 vessels in Tees ENGLANDU S A ?

71 auxillary vessels ~16 years moored in oyster area 3 vessels in Tees ENGLANDU S A Haplosporidium nelsoni protozoan Perkensis marinus ? ?

Concern over further impacting pests Hull fouling and the spread of diseases Likely collapses of oyster populations, GMO technology Monitoring enables good management: but field- work expensive

Many thanks to Liz Cook and Chris Reid for the invitation to address you and thanks to those that inspired me in oyster research: Colm B. Duggan, Roy Drinnan, Alec Gibson, Victor Loosanof, Roger Mann, Dan Quayle, Peter Walne, C.M. Yonge and many others Come to the place of my birth and have a mighty time with good oysters and stout

Many thanks to Liz Cook and Paul Clark for the invitation to address you and thanks to those that inspired me in oyster research: Colm B. Duggan, Roy Drinnan, Alec Gibson, Victor Loosanof, Roger Mann, Dan Quayle, Peter Walne, C.M. Yonge and many others Did not win the world oyster shucking event Come to the place of my birth and have a mighty time with good oysters and stout