Culture of the brown mussel Perna indica at Vizhinjam, Southwest coast of India

The brown mussel Perna indica is found to be abundant in the inter tidal rocky area from Vizhinjam to Cape Comorin on the southwest coast of India. Results of culture experiments conducted at Vizhinjam during 1976-1979 period is summarized with details on environmental features of mussel farm, method of brown mussel culture on rope, seeding seasons, growth rate, spawning periodicity, production rate and animal association. The average growth rate of cultured mussels in the bay was 2.92 mm/month. Experiments on culture in the open sea have shown a faster growth rate of 5 mm/month. Spawning of P. indica begins by May and lasts till September with peak during July to August. Natural settlement of spat was noticed from July and the peak period of settlement was September-October. Production rate was estimated as 150 tonnes per hectare area for brown mussel. The average yield per metre length of rope was 12 kg