Bivalve mollusc culture research in Thailand

The complexity of the issues pertinent to bivalve culture required an interdisciplinary approach concerned as much with profit margins, product handling, and the socioeconomic conditions of producers and others involved in the industry as with biological and ecological factors. The first phase focused on research in four areas: postharvest handling; pollution in mollusc production areas; shellfish economics and marketing; and shellfish culture and hatchery technology. Economic studies were also conducted. Research emphasis during the remainder of the project shifted to problems related to the supply of cockle (Anadara sp.) seed following announcement of a ban on the export of Malaysian cockle seed to Thailand. In many respects, the project posed more questions than it answered. The feasibility of commercial hatchery production of tropical bivalves remains unproven and the effects of deteriorating environmental quality still threaten coastal aquacultural development. The project did, however, produce a large amount of useful information and advances in research and training and provided a good example of how public and private institutions can cooperate effectively in aquaculture development. This technical report contains the results of some of the studies performed and describes all other outputs of the project.