EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE OF THE AMERICAN LOBSTER (HOMARUS-AMERICANUS) UTILIZING WARM WASTE-WATER FROM A POWER-STATION IN JAPAN

The American lobster was cultured experimentally at Hayama, in seawate r controlled between 16-degrees and 20-degrees-C to investigate the ad vantages of utilizing warm waste water from a power station. The survi val rate was improved by using an open (flow-through) rearing system w here the lobsters were reared under dark conditions and seawater was d isinfected by ultraviolet light. Bacterial number was reduced from 3.4 -37.5 x 10(3) to 0.7-4.3 x 10(3) CFU/ml by ultraviolet treatment. The rearing results were compared with those obtained at Sanriku, using am bient seawater between 10-degrees and 20-degrees-C. Growth rate was fa ster at Hayama than at Sanriku. With these rearing conditions at Hayam a, the lobsters might be raised to marketable size within 3 years.