SINGAPORE

Mollusc culture in Singapore is restricted to the farming of the green mussel Perna viridis. Other bivalves such as the small oyster, Saccostrea cucullata and the mussel Gluaconome rugosa are collected from the wild.

Total bivalve production in 1986 amounted to 900 MT most of which was from the landings of the green mussel. The annual mussel aquaculture landings from 1982 to 1987 are shown in Figure 1 and Table 1. Although the production in 1983 totalled 979 MT, the annual output from 1984 to 1986 averaged about 580 MT, probably due to the low demand of the product. However, following intense product promotion activities, the production in 1987 increased to 1,024 MT. Figure 2 shows the production of mussels for the periods 1982 – 1984 and 1985 – 1987. There has been a slight production increase in the second period.
Most of the mussel production is from raft culture, mainly concentrated around Lim Chu Kang area in the western part of the Strait of Johore. However, harvesting is also carried out from natural beds mostly found in the estuaries of Sungei Serangoon, Ponggol and Seletar in the East Johore Strait and Sungei Kranji and Sarimbun in the West Johore Strait.

To date, sea farmers in Singapore have not reported any major problem in the culture of mussels. Constraints lie mainly in the handling of the large quantities of fresh shell-on mussels that are harvested at any one time. Harvesting of the mussel ropes is currently by manual lifting but the Primary Production Department is now looking into the possibility of mechanizing the operation.
The main constraint to mussel production in Singapore is not in the farming but in the low consumer demand for the product (Table 2). Efforts are being made to promote mussels as a food product or as a high quality feedstuff for prawn feeds.
The general trend in mussel seafarming research and development is towards the application of higher technology methods in farm management in order to maximise productivity and yield, save on labour and ensure consistently high product quality.

There is a need to ensure that bivalves are available in Singapore and that they are wholesome and of good quality. Studies on high-density depuration systems are being carried out.

Figure 1. Total annual production of mussel (Perna viridis) in Singapore from 1982 to 1987.

Figure 2. Total production of mussel (Perna viridis) for the periods 1982–1984 and 1985–1987 in Singapore.

Table 1: Annual production of commercially important shellfish in Singapore, 1981 – 1987. (Values: MT).

Table 2: Information on status of mollusc culture in Singapore.