Culture potentials of green mussel, Perna viridis along the southern coasts of Kerala .

Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, University of Kerala. *Centre for Marine Science and Technology, M.S. University.

Sumesh , C., Lipton, A.P*., Pramod Kiran , R.B. and Subhash , S.K.

Perna viridis - Potential species for aquaculture.

Chippi in Tamil and Kallumekai in Malayalam.

Distributed along west and east coasts of India.

In Kerala found extensively in Kollam, Alappuzha, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod.

INTRODUCTION

OBJECTIVES

Evaluation of production potential of Green mussel

Length and weight in culture condition

Recording growth and production in culture condition

Hydrological parameters of the cultured waters

STUDY AREA

Azheekal estuary in Kollam district, Kerala

Farm I - 3.5 Km away from mouth of estuary.

Farm II – 1.5 Km from farm I.

Farm III – 0.5 Km distance from farm II.

Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Phylum- Mollusca Class - Bivalvia Order - Mytiloida Family - Mytilidae Genus - Perna species - viridis

METHODOLOGY

172 days of rack culture method was carried out in 3 farms.

Spats collected during December 2006 by using spat collectors.

Each rack of 10 × 5 m2 area with 200 ropes each of 1 m length and 15 – 20 mm diameter was seeded @ 2 kg/m of rope using cotton mosquito net . Periodical monitoring of length and weight as well as hydrological parameters was done in each farms.

Leng

th (m

m)

Sampling

RESULTS

Comparison of Length of Perna viridis in three experimental Farms

Comparison of Weight of Perna viridis in three experimental Farms

Sampling

Wei

ght (

gm)

Salinity 25 - 31 ppt

Temperature 21 – 30 ºc

pH 7.4 - 8.1

Dissolved oxygen

3.92 ± 0.02 mg/l

HYDROBIOLOGY

Site Size of Rack

Days of culture

No . of Ropes

Weight of seed per rope (kg)

Yield per 1m rope (kg)

Totalyield (in tones)

Farm I 10×5m 172 200 2 11 2.2

Farm II 10×5m 172 200 2 9 1.8

Farm III 10×5m 172 200 2 8 1.6

Details of rack culture of green mussel Perna viridis

Harvested mussels

CONCLUSION

The production potential was compared with that of north

Kerala.

The productivity was lesser than northern zone.

Marketable size of mussel attained during the growth period

indicates suitability and possibility of further development of

mussel farming.

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