China tops world oyster and mussel production RP no. 8

DAGUPAN CITY – The country gets the 8^th place in world oyster production on the recently concluded research conducted by experts from the Asian Fisheries Academy at Bonuan Binloc this city.

This observation was made after a presentation of the status and prospects of hatchery and culture shellfishes by Dr. Wilfredo Yap aquaculture consultant during the first National Shellfish Summit held recently in the city.

The country’s production of oyster or “talaba” ranked only eighth with 20, 508.05 metric tons of talaba produced in year 2007 and the Philippines ranks only 14^th in mussel “tahong” production while China tops the world mussel production with its produced 3.5 million metric tons, Dr. Yap said.

Considering that the country has a long shoreline with 36,000 kilometers, the country’s production of oyster and mussels is still very minimal. Dr. Yap disclosed in an exclusive interview with Pangasinan Today.

The oyster production ranks only fourth in aquaculture produce in the country while Milkfish tops the production in which Dagupan City has contributed a lot followed by tilapia and prawn.

In the Philippines, the province of Pangasinan ranks third in “talaba” (oyster production) with 4,110.04 metric tons with 20 percent of the total produced while Region 6 is named as the biggest producer of talaba or oyster and mussels particularly in the province of Capiz and Negros Occidental.