Mussel Farming

Abstract

Introduction T he mussels are bivalve molluscs typically inhabiting the littoral to shallow sub-littoral zones of the coastal areas. The soft tissue of bivalves is enclosed in a shell consisting of two valves joined at one edge by a flexible ligament called the hinge. Mussels are found attached to the hard surfaces in the littoral and sublittoral zones by secreting long fine silky threads called byssus threads. Being sedentary, they can tolerate short periods of exposure to extreme temperatures, salinities, desiccation and relatively high levels of turbidity. The two species of mussels with good potential for culture in India are the green mussel, Perna viridis and the brown mussel Perna indica.