Bivalve mariculture in India (pearl oyster, edible mussel and oyster); A success story in coastal ecosystem development

India has a coastline of 8129 km of which the mainland coast accounts for 6000km and the islands of Andaman and Nicobar and lakshadweep, the rest. Coastal aquaculture and mariculture occupy an area of about 120000 ha providing employment to morethan 200000 people. however, as the present region under production forms only 10% of the identified potential area in the coastal belt, there is great scope for increased thrust for the development of mariculture. The bivalve resources of India, comprising the pearl producing pearl oyster and the protein rich mussel and edible oyster, have become an important source of income to the coastal villagers. The indian marine pearls have now entered into the world gem trade after a gap of nearly three decades. The revival of this industry, which had flourished in the ancient times, has become possible only through the development of full fledged pearl culture technology by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin.