Expanding Tropical Oyster Production: A Review

The Merbok River estuary belongs to the tropical monsoon climate zone (Am), characterized by high temperature and humidity, distinct dry and wet seasons, and tidal influence.Its climatic conditions make it highly suitable for oyster culture farming.Its annual mean air and water temperature ranges are 27°C-30°C and 26°C-31°C, respectively, maintaining the optimal range of 25°C-30°C for oyster farming.Its annual rainfall is approximately 2,000-3,000 mm, with heavy rain and flooding during the wet season, whereas the dry season offers stable weather conditions.Its humidity range is 80%-90%, which promotes biofouling.It experiences semidiurnal tides, with ranges of 0.5-35-ppt salinity, 0.65-10.8-mg/Ldissolved oxygen, and 10-140-mg/L total suspended solids.The wind speed is typically 5-10 m/s, although strong winds may occur during the monsoon season.The dry season provides favorable conditions for spat collection and harvesting, whereas the wet season necessitates strategic measures such as farm relocation or the use of indoor hatcheries.Implementing data-driven management is essential to mitigate anthropogenic impacts and adapt to climate change.