Some aspects of the water fow through mussel rafts
J. Blanco

All studies on particle retention by mussel rafts have assumed a laminar or nearly laminar water flow, directed from the front to the rear of the raft. We have studied such a flow in five rafts in the Ría de Arousa. Our results show that, in most cases, the current velocity at the centre of the raft is slower than at the rear. This situation can only be achieved by means of lateral inputs. The current velocity showed great variation with depth and the differences depended on raft and time. The current direction also varied with depth and, in some cases, all currents entered the rafts from the same side. These findings have two important repercussions: a) it is necessary to change the sampling strategy to measure the retention of suspended material and the environmental impact by rafts; and b) the structure of the rafts can be modified to optimize their adaptation to the water flow.

Keywords: Mussel culture, rafts, water flow, particle retention.
Contents of this volume Sci. Mar. 60(2-3) : 275-282 Back PDF
 
 
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