Review on production of mussel seed

Abstract

Production of mussel seed requires priority attention for the expansion of mussel culture as an industry in India. Procurement of adequate seed from the wild beds even for the current experimental programmes is faced with problems. Two lines of approach have been suggested for enhancing seed production. The first approach is to harness the production of seed in nature through three ways, namely exploitation of the mussel seed settling on the stone embankments and groynes laid as an anti-sea erosion measure, enhancement of spat fall on artificially laid col lectors in the farms ; and selecting areas where the current system and other environmental factors are conducive for larval transport and settlement of the pediveliger stage in the sites where breeding reserves of adult mussel are provided. The second approach is through hatchery system. Although mussel hatcheries do not exist in Europe where world mussel production is concentrated in view of plentiful supply of natural seed, it is imperative for India to develop the hatchery technology as the natural seed availability is severely limited. While discussing the above aspects of seed production, the paper reviews the larval history of mussel and the technologies available for induced spawning and larval rearing, with particular reference to larval food and diseases.