economy

The Wonsan Seafood Production and Processing Station increases mussel production by introducing an advanced method of breeding mussels. 

What is notable in the station’s breeding of mussels is the introduction of the new breeding method which can markedly increase the per-hectare yield.

The advantage of the new mussel breeding method is that it helps increase mussel production by way of transplanting thinned out mussels on new guide lines without discarding them as before.

Generally, mussel larvae are collected around the end of May, but the station floats guide lines in the waters of the cultivation ground one month earlier to ensure the uniform size of mussels and make the larvae cling to the lines.

It also introduced an additional mussel planting method which makes it possible to prevent most of mussels from falling on the bottom of the cultivation ground when they are picked for thinning based on natural breed gathering and thereby keep the ecological environment from being polluted.

Previously, the young mussels picked off the lines to be thinned out were just dropped on the bottom of the cultivation ground, which was thus aged by gas and other residues from the dead young mussels, resulting in a sharp decrease in mussel production. Now, however, it has become able to prevent such phenomena.

Meanwhile, the station has taken reasonable measures to increase mussel production, including those to prevent the guide lines from getting tangled by waves during the cultivation, to rationally adjust the depth of water for the cast of rope by supplementing buoys according to seasons and prevent the fall of mussels by waves.

It has also taken a measure to keep the survival rate of mussels from falling due to abnormal weather conditions, thus making it possible to produce good mussels.

“Recently, the station staged a national exhibition after achieving great success in mussel breeding. People from many units visited it to learn from its experience,” said Kim Song Su, manager of the Wonsan Seafood Production and Processing Station.

The production of mussels at the station is expected to increase considerably this year again after last year.