Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Enhancing profitability through improved seeding techniques in green mussel (Perna viridis) farming

Volume 45 Issue 2

K. S. Mohamed, V. Kripa, T. S. Velayudhan and K. K. Appukuttan

Abstract

In mussel farming, the high.investment costs on polyethylene ropes and operating costs due to transplanting mussel seeds can be reduced through the use of new seeding techniques. New methods were attempted by transplanting Perna viridis (L.) seed to 12 mm diameter polyethylene ropes on which biodegradable cotton net was wrapped and stitched together (control), 12 mm frilled polyethylene rope (Fuzzym) with white fully degradable tubing socks (FuW) and grey semi-degradable synthetic tubing socks (FuG) and 5 cm broad flexible plastic strips (FPS) kept inside pre-stitched biodegradable cotton net. The treatments, which were replicated, were suspended from a fixed rack in a shallow tropical estuary (Ashtamudi Lake). The specific growth rate (SGR) in length and weight, fallout percentage and production in different treatments were compared. There was no significant difference in the SGR in length and weight, while the fallout percentage was significantly (P<0.05) lower and production significantly (P<0.05) higher in FPS and control treatments. Since the FPS and control treatments did not show any difference in terms of growth and production, the economic performance of these two methods were compared. The economic analysis indicated that the use of FPS together with pre-stitched biodegradable cotton net reduced the investment costs by 34% and increased the rate of return by 48% over that of the control.

Date : 30-12-2003