Mussel

Mussel Latest News

Recently, the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) unit at Vizhinjam has launched its first full-fledged open-sea mussel longline farming unit.

About Mussel

• It is a bivalve of mollusks belonging to the marine family Mytilidae and to the freshwater family Unionidae. 
• Distribution: They are most common in cool seas. Freshwater mussels known as naiads inhabit streams, lakes, and ponds over most of the world.

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Features of Mussel

• Appearance: Marine mussels are usually wedge-shaped or pear-shaped and range in size from about 5 to 15 centimetres. 
• They may be smooth or ribbed and often have a hairy covering.
• The shells of many species are dark blue or dark greenish brown on the outside; on the inside they are often pearly.
• They attach themselves to solid objects or to one another by proteinaceous threads called byssus threads.
• They often occur in dense clusters.

Benefits of Mussel

• Food Source: They are edible and considered nutritious, rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and various vitamins and minerals.
• Pearl Production: Freshwater mussels are used for pearl cultivation.
• Ecological Role: These species are filter-feeding organisms that absorb a range of contaminants into their tissue, including invisible microplastics.
• They have been used globally for decades as a barometer of marine pollution.

Source: TH