Exploitation of windowpane oyster Placuna placenta (Linnaeus)

Abstract

Exploitation of molluscs, producing marine pearl was done for the collection of natural / cultured pearls only, whereas, the exploitation of windowpane oyster was mostly for their shells. The pearls obtained from wiiidowpane oyster, Placuna placenta were mostly ivory or white in colour and small in size. The translucent shells are commercially and economically important in shell craft industry. Hence they are exploited in large quantities from the east and west coast of India.