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Molluscan aquaculture in China
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1999
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Molluscan AquacultureAquacultural EngineeringEngineeringAquacultural SystemsAquacultureAquaculture SystemShandong ProvinceMaricultureMetric TonsMicrobiologyMarine BiologyAquatic EnergyEnvironmentally Sustainable Aquaculture
Molluscan aquaculture in China has grown rapidly over the past decade, with regional specialization in scallops, abalone, and Manila clams in the north, oysters and pearl oysters in the south, and various clams in the middle, but intensive mariculture may have exceeded carrying capacity and degraded culture environments. Production technology ranges from simple wild‑seed gathering and stocking for clams to sophisticated hatchery and growout operations for abalone and pearl oysters. In 1996, China produced 6.4 MMT of mollusks—an eightfold rise from 1986—with 32 species cultivated, including 2.3 MMT oysters, 1.6 MMT clams, 1 MMT scallops, 0.4 MMT mussels, 700 tons abalone, and 20 tons marine pearls, with Shandong leading production but northern abalone and scallop farms suffering recent disease‑related losses.
Molluscan aquaculture in China has been growing rapidly in the past decade. China produced 6.4 million metric tons (MMT) of mollusks from aquaculture in 1996, an eightfold increase over that of 1986, At least 32 species of marine mollusks are cultured commercially in China. The 1996 production included 2.3 MMT of oysters, 1.6 MMT of clams (mostly Ruditapes, Meretrix, razor clams, and blood cockles), 1 MMT of scallops, 0.4 MMT of mussels, 700 tons of abalone, and 20 tons of marine pearls. Shandong province is the largest producer of cultured mollusks, followed by Guangdong, Fujian, Liaoning, Guangxi, and Zhejiang provinces (ranked 2-6, respectively). As a generalized pattern, molluscan aquaculture in China is characterized by scallops, abalone, and Manila clams in the northern provinces (Shandong and Liaoning), oysters and pearl oysters in the south (Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi), and various clam species in the middle (Zhejiang and Jiangsu). The production technology ranges from simple gathering and stocking of wild seeds for several clam species to sophisticated hatchery and growout operations for abalone and pearl oysters. The rapid development of intensive mariculture during the past decade may have exceeded the carrying capacity of some areas and contributed to deterioration of the culture environment. Abalone and scallop cultures in the north have been seriously affected by diseases and mortalities in recent years.