Mussel catch in Samar recovering after cleanup

published September 01, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY — A group of fishermen here has noted a slight recovery in the production of mussel, locally known as tahong, in Maqueda Bay in Samar.

Gerardo Malinao, chairman of Gugma han Maqueda Bay Igin-un-dong han Organisasyon Samarnon, said production has improved by 35%, so far, this year after a comprehensive cleanup conducted at the bay in the wake of a massive mussel kill last year.

"Since people started raising tahong in 1953, no cleanup has been done until last year. After May 2008, the livelihood of fisherfolk has been affected, considering the 96% loss in production," Mr. Malinao said in an interview.

The traditional use of bamboo poles to attract mussel spats led to increased siltation and prevented adequate water circulation within the area.

A study by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said this caused the mussel kill.

"Poor water circulation also increases deposition of nitrogenous wastes in coastal beds, further aggravating the hypoxic condition. Farmed mussels continuously exposed to hypoxic conditions become stressed, brought about by critically low levels of oxygen, thus affecting their survival and making them susceptible to secondary microbial infections, which may result in mass mortalities," the study said.

Hence, BFAR introduced the raft hanging method to mussel farmers. This was expected to raise production and reduce marine pollution. Under the new method, the bamboo raft serves as breeding place of mussels.

Mr. Malinao said that they were encouraged to apply the technology in the production process after the price of mussels went up to P800 per sack from only P140 last year.

"This is due to increasing demand for tahong in Davao, Cebu, and Bohol. Our goal is to directly sell the products to the market outside Region 8 in order to gain bigger profits," he added.

The group has 4,970 members in Catbalogan, Jiabong, Villareal, Motiong, Tarangnan and Talalora all towns bordering Maqueda Bay.

It can be recalled that between May to June 2008, massive mussel mortality was noted in Jiabong. A month after, 90% of the mussel farms had stopped operation. In November 2008, another mussel kill occurred in the two-hectare techno demo farm established by the government despite the fresh introduction of the raft hanging method. The mussel kill caused P38-million losses for the industry, according to BFAR. The significant decline in harvest affected at least 137 registered farmers in the top mussel producing municipality.

In 2006, the mussel industry in the area reported 10,616 metric tons of catch worth P43.24 million.