Emergence of large quantities alarms fish farmers
BROWN MUSSELS
THE mussels have become boon and a bane to fish farmers in Anda town, depending on their color.
The large quantities of brown mussels surfacing in the town’s river has alarmed fish farmers while marine scientists are probing the market value of the newly discovered blue mussels.
Fish farmers confirmed that the brown mussels in large quantities of same sizes emerged after the long monsoon rains this July and August and consider them a bane to fish caging because they clog their nets.
They fear that if uncontrolled, the brown mussels may wreck havoc to their livelihood.
But Director Westly Rosaro of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology and Development Center (NIFTDC) was quick to assure the fish farmers there was no cause for alarm because brown mussel is indigenous to the Philippines.
Another indigenous mussel specie is the green-lipped, which has higher market value than the brown specie, whose meat can be dried and fetches P4,500 per kilo.
Dr. Rosario said that as a scientist, he does not support the theory of fish farmers that the brown mussels reproduced in big quantities during long days of monsoon rains.
“My theory is, there was a fish kill that occurred in Anda, which was not highlighted, and among those that died along with milkfish were the green-lipped mussels which were considered the dominant specie before.
He said during the KBP Forum last Sept. 24, it is possible that the brown specie emerged as dominant after the former dominant specie died.
Meanwhile, Rosario confirmed that the blue mussels, which is a new discovery, previously found in the brackish rivers of Dagupan but some of which were already found in San Fabian, Alaminos City and the waters of the Hundred Islands.
He said to find out more about this new discovery, he sent samples of the blue mussels to the United States to conduct DNA analysis to compare it with the blue mussels in temperate countries. (Leonardo Micua)
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