The growth of Haliotis tuberculata: results of tagging experiments in Guernsey 1963–65

A tagging investigation on the ormer (Haliotis tuberculata L.) has been carried out for the Guernsey States Sea Fisheries Committee. Cementing plastic discs to the shell has proved a satisfactory technique since substantial numbers of 40—50% were recovered after 1 and 2 years in the open sea off the west coast of Guernsey. From the increase in shell size of the recovered specimens the mean growth rate has been shown to be about 15 mm of shell length per year up to a shell size of 50 mm, and thereafter decreasing until at 100 mm length growth is negligible. The growth parameters K and L∞ have been calculated. Annual rings were frequently, though not invariably, found on the shell. From the frequencies of the shell-ring lengths in the smaller ormers estimates of the shell size reached 1 and 2 years after settlement have been made. A single annual ring was also found with the majority of the larger shells (> 50 mm), though when growth did not exceed 4 mm in a year the rings were not included owing to the difficulty of separating annual rings from possible disturbance rings caused by the process of tagging. The position of the annual ring varied, being closer to the outer edge of the shell with increasing size. Measurements of the length increase from one annual ring to the next indicated rates of growth closely comparable to those obtained from tagging measurements. Damage to the shells by the boring sponge Cliona lobata Hancock is very widespread, particularly in the larger ormers living below the tide marks.