KOCHI: A study team from Goa, consisting of officers of the Brackish Fish Farmers Development Authority (BFFDA), fish farmers, fishermen and entrepreneurs, was full of appreciation when it visited the farms breeding edible oyster and mussel in the backwaters in Moothakunnam Tharayilkavala near Paravoor on Thursday. The 22 member team led by BFFDA (Goa) Assistant Director Anjaly Menezes Ticlo visited the oyster and mussel forms in the backwaters here.
Kerala has achieved a remarkable position in the cultivation of oyster and mussel. The Aquaculture Development Agency of Kerala (ADAK) has provided the technology in the backwaters of Moothakunnam, Sathar Island and Puthenvelikkara areas, extending financial support to the farmers. More than 500 families in the Moothakunnam area make a living through oyster and mussel farming and marketing. The volunteers of the Kudumbasree in 34 farms here.
The fish farmers have produced 16,000 tonnes of mussel and 300 tonnes of oyster in Kerala in the last year, K Sunilkumar Mohamed, Head of the Department of Molluscan Fisheries Division in Central Marine Fisheries Development Institute told Express. Meanwhile the exorbitant cost of mussel spats causes great difficulties and a cut in the income of the oyster farmers and Kudumbasree volunteers. With the increase in demand for the mussel spat, its cost has risen to Rs 1400, fishermen said. The majority of the spats are collected from the northern parts of the state. Sunilkumar suggested that mussel hatcheries be set up to supply mussel spats at low cost. An earlier proposal for setting up a mussel hatchery was dropped when the govt found that the project was not economically viable.
However, in the light of the huge increase in the price of fish and its scarcity, the demand for oyster and mussel has gone up. Setting up of mussel hatcheries would help farmers to get better quality spats at an affordable cost.
The BFFDA officers from Goa wished to link the oyster and mussel farming in the backwaters to tourism. The study report will be immediately submitted to the govt of Goa to enable the Fisheries Department to include the development project in the next financial year.
kochi@epmltd.com