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[av_heading heading=’Sustainability of producing ‘tahong’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
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January 19, 2018
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THE only known species of mussel that is being cultivated commercially in the Philippines is the green mussel (Perna viridis) or commonly called tahong.
However, the insufficient supply of seed stock greatly hinders the sustainability of mussel production.
This is because the mussel farmers rely mainly on the seeds that they gather from the wild.
Due to the impacts of natural and human influences, mussel spats from the natural bed are now becoming scarce and could hardly support the requirement of the growers.
To address the problem regarding the low production of mussel spats, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), funded the Mussel Hatchery Project.
The project, which was implemented by the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) in Miagao, Iloilo, aimed to develop technologies to ensure a reliable supply of mussel spats for grow-out production.
Following the method established by the project, transport of broodstock from the natural mussel ground to the UPV hatchery ranging from seven to 36 hours after harvest attained a high survival rate of about 98 percent.
The “warm water spawning technique” was also employed and consistently exhibited good results.
Transitioning from “D-hinged” to “early spat” stage of about 1-mm provided more than four percent survival rate, which was higher than that obtained in other Asian countries, with only 1 to 2 percent.
The spent spawners were rematured by restocking them in the natural environment.
Due to this welcome development, mussel farmers, entrepreneurs, vendors, middleman, processors, researchers, technicians, extension workers, policy makers, and consumers are expected to benefit from this project.
In order to expand the development of mussel production, PCAARRD has also funded a project which identified at least 14 locations measuring a total of 6,283.30 hectares as potential sites for mussel culture.
The project dubbed “Suitability assessment and database development for enhanced mussel culture management using geospatial technologies,” is being implemented by the UPV and UP Diliman, under the leadership of Dr. Carlos C. Baylon of UPV in Miag-ao, Iloilo.
The project aims to identify potential sites that favor the hydrographic and biophysical conditions for mussel growth.
Identification of suitable and potential areas for mussel culture could provide area for expansion of mussel culture leading to an increased mussel production.
Additional mussel-growing areas can then lead to a more sustainable mussel industry which can help in addressing national issues like food security, livelihood, and poverty alleviation.
Using geospatial technologies, the 14 sites which were identified, include Hagnaya in Cebu – 122 hectares (has); Calape in Bohol – 680 has; Misamis Occidental, particularly in Murcielagos and Panguil Bay – 512.50 has; Placer in Surigao del Norte – 71.5 has; Sagay in Negros Occidental – 1,390 has; Bais in Negros Oriental – 1,300 has; Marinduque – 1,098 has; Buguey in Cagayan – 34.3 has; Mati City and Panabo in Davao – 990 has; and Bislig inSurigao del Sur – 100 has.
These sites can be utilized as expansion areas for green mussel culture to increase production in the Philippines. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
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