Loading capacities and criteria for the successful depuration of cockles (Cardium edule) in small scale standard design depuration systems

Summary

These trials set out to investigate whether increased loadings oc cockles could be successfully depurated using the current standard of 30kg for comparison. Initial trials also involved a comparison between hand-raked cockles and cockles harvested by a towed-cage fluidized-bed dredge and concluded that this form of mechanised harvesting yielded cockles that were suitable for depuration. Results indicated that successful depuration could indeed by achieved with 90kg loading at the current minimum depuration temperature of 7°C. The results at 16°C for both 30kg and 90kg were inconclusive but suggest that depuration of cockles in general at this temperature warrants further study.

Publication date

01 December 2005