Bacteriological study of seawater for the culture of bivalve molluscs in Baja California

Abstract

During critical seasons of environmental pollution, bacteriological samplings were made in Willard Bay and Los Angeles Bay, Baja California, in 1985-1987, and in Falsa Bay and Todos Santos Bay, B.C., in 1991-1993. The objective of this study was to determine the quality of the water for culturing bivalve molluscs. Bacteriological faecal indicators (total coliforms and faecal coliforms) were determined by MPN technique, according to standard methods. Except for summer 1985 in Willard Bay, when a significant amount of organic material was introduced by fishing boats, and winter 1992 in Falsa Bay and Todos Santos Bay, when there was an important input of bacteria due to rainfall, the bacteriological quality of the water was acceptable for culturing bivalve molluscs in the four locations, since the values were below the limit established by legislation.

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