5.5.3.1 Production trends of bivalves

5.5.3.1 Production trends of bivalves

The average annual production of edible bivalves during 1996 to 2000 was estimated as 1.52 lakh tonnes, about 2.5 times more than the average landings during the period prior to 1996. A variety of clams, oysters, mussels and windowpane oysters are distributed along the Indian coastline. They are mostly collected by the local people. Clams and cockles form 73.8%, followed by oysters (12.5%), mussels (7.5%) and windowpane oysters (6.2%). The west coast accounts for 52.3% of the landing where the catch is utilized for both the meat and the shell. Among the maritime states, Andhra Pradesh is the top producer (70,705 t) followed by Kerala (58,763 t). The production levels in other states are negligible.

Commercially important bivalves in the brackish waters and estuaries of India
Bivalves resources

Common name

Clams and Cockles

Villorita cyprinoides

Black clam

Paphia malabarica, Paphia spp.

Short neck clam, Textile clam

Meretrix casta, M. meretrix

Yellow clam

Marcia opima

Baby clam

Mesodesma glabaratum


Sunetta scripta

Marine clam

Donax spp.

Wedge clam

Geloina bengalensis

Big black clam

Anadora granosa

Cockle

Placenta placenta

Windowpane oyster

Tridacna maxima, T. squamosa

and T. crocea, Hippopus hippopus

Giant clam

Mussels

Perna viridis

Green mussel

Perna indica

Brown mussel

Edible oysters

Crassostrea madrasensis

Indian backwater oyster

Saccostrea cuculata

Rock oyster

Last modified: Wednesday, 27 June 2012, 10:20 AM