Valorização e promoção da qualidade das ostras de aquacultura na região do Sado e Mira

The oyster production finds good conditions in Sado and Mira river natural banks and aquacultures. The aquaculture companies found some constraints to increased production due to local environmental characteristics fluctuations and the poor enhancing and promotion of final product. The quality characteristics of water, handling of the oysters in aquaculture and evaluation of the characteristics of the final product need to be better studied and improved in order to increase the production. The project aims to map the natural oyster banks and oyster aquaculture, measuring the parameters in the natural environment that can influence oyster production (water, sediment and other living organisms) and by establishing the relationship with the quality of final product, measured by sensory and nutritional analysis. The relationship between the natural environment influences, the growth and reproduction cycle will also be studied in natural banks to define the best seasons to collect oyster seeds. Based on the project results, it will be possible to develop an integrated management model based on the best practices and by creating promotion material that will benefit stakeholder in the region.