Comparative Valuation of On-Bottom and Off-Bottom Mussel (Perna viridis) Culture as a Small Scale Enterprise, in Chettuva Estuary at Kerala, India

4 Abstract: Mussels are extensively cultivated worldwide with great economic importance. The Indian coast has extensive backwaters and estuaries suitable for mussel farming, still the rationale behind the potential of mussel farming as a village-based small scale farming enterprise has not been critically evaluated experimental culture of green mussel, Perna viridis (On-bottom and Off-bottom) on a small scale basis was carried out in the present study to analyze the appropriate technique suitable for the estuarine conditions in Kerala, South India. Off-bottom cultured mussels had faster growth rate and a production of 360 kg was obtained. Only 78 kg was harvested from On-bottom culture. The net operating income from Off-bottom culture was US$ 527.74 and US$ 70.49 from On-bottom culture. The net cash return from Off-bottom culture was ten times higher than On-bottom culture. The present research ensures that Off-bottom mussel culture is well suited to the estuarine conditions in Kerala, India.