Extension of mussel farming through community participation in Karnataka- a case study

Abstract

Mussel Culture offers immense scope for development in our open waters for enhancing food and livelihood security of the fisherfolk, the vulnerable sections of our society. Self Help Groups (SHGs') do play a vital role in management of common property resources through community participation. Three case studies on Dynamics of Self Help Groups in Mussel Farming in open sea and estuaries in Karnataka coastal belts were explored for the present study. SHGs' were mobilised in Karnataka coastal belts and offered training through demonstration on mussel culture in open sea and estuaries at three sites namely Majali, Sunkeri and Bhatkal. Initially, training and demonstration programmes in two sites in Karwar were undertaken, one for raft culture in open sea in Majali of Dandebag and one for rack culture in Sunkeri of Kali estuary.