Selecting a species
We have prepared guidance notes and electronic encyclopaedias about a range of bivalves and finfish in order to assist culturists in making this important choice. Below is a list of seafood species with biological information and resources for each - simply click on the name of the species you would like to read more about.
Bivalve harvesting and purification
- Coastal Characterisation & the CSO Text Alert Initiative
- Classification of shellfish harvesting areas
- Reuse of sea water for purification systems
- Live bivalves workbook
- Co-funding SARF projects
- Risk assessment for bivalves
- Guidance on HACCP Plans for Bivalve Purification Operations
- FBO supplementary sampling guide
- Recent developments in depuration (England and Wales)
- Reducing the depuration time of bivalve molluscs: assessing risk based reductions in depuration times
Species profile: Oysters
- Native oyster cultivation
- Pacific oyster cultivation
- Developing a protocol for Pacific oyster cultivation
- Fact sheet - Developing a protocol for Pacific oyster cultivation
- Technical pages 4.9 Mb
Species profile: seabed mussels
- Technical pages 3 Mb
- Economic model 4.4 Mb
- Seabed mussel cultivation
- Suspended Mussels: Technical pages 4.9 Mb
- Suspended Mussels: Economic model 4.7Mb
- Suspended Mussels: Rope mussel cultivation
- Mussels Responsible Sourcing Guide
Species profile: clams
- Clam cultivation
- Technical pages 7.3Mb
- Manila clam economic model 4.6Mb
- Native clam economic model 4.6Mb
Species profile: scallops
- Technical pages 5.6 Mb
- Economic model 4.7 Mb
- UK Scallop Industry Good Practice Guide
- Scallops Responsible Sourcing Guide
- Scallop cultivation
Shellfish
- Lobsters and Crabs, The most widely available edible crab species is the brown crab, Cancer pagurus, which is one of the UK's most valuable seafood products. Two closely-related lobster species are available in the UK - the European lobster, Homarus gammarus, and the imported American lobster, Homarus americanus.
Species profile: lobsters and crabs
- Lobster cultivation
- Lobster Hatcheries and Stocking Programmes: An Introductory Manual
- Crab and lobster Responsible Sourcing Guide
Finfish
For more about rearing finfish, please see our finfish guidance notes.
- Salmon, a very popular species of fish with UK consumers, is supported by the SSPO - Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation.
- The UK trout farm industry is represented by the British Trout Association, who offer research, promotional materials and legislative information about trout in the UK.
- Turbot and Halibut are cultivated in the UK in a similar way to salmon. More information can be found from the British Marine Finfish Association.
- Cod cultivation is in its infancy in the UK. The cost of producing cod in farms is greater than that of catching cod in the wild, and this limits the scope for farming presently. However, there is a niche market for sustainable farmed cod.
Species profile: turbot and halibut
- Turbot: Technical pages 2.5 Mb
- Turbot: Hatchery economic model 4.7 Mb
- Turbot: On-growing economic model 5.2 Mb
- Halbut: Technical pages 3.4Mb
- Halibut: Hatchery economic model 5.7 Mb
- Halibut: Nursery economic model 4.4. Mb
- Halibut: Cage on-growing economic model 3.8 Mb
Species profile: cod