Oyster farming.

The cultivation of oysters is identified as a response to the need to increase food production without compromising natural resources.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- Classified as one of the species with great nutritional potential, this mollusk is among the priorities of the mariculture strategy belonging to the Las Tunas Fishing Company (PESCATUN), in order to increase its yields.

With very good conditions for its cultivation in municipalities such as Manatí and Puerto Padre, these actions are part of the implementation of the Ecovalor International Project, aimed at implementing economic incentives to achieve financial sustainability in the use and conservation of ecosystems.

An investment process that foresees an increase in oyster production is being carried out in the northern and southern regions of the province, alternatives that will double the 250 tons currently planned in this area for the coming years.

The rustic constructions of these farms are made up of hanging baskets with the same reused shell, in which the oyster larvae adhere and do not attach to the mangrove, so that pressure is not exerted on that ecosystem.

M.Sc. Adalberto Segura Leyva, PESCATUN's director of operations and Ecovalor's representative in this sector, informs 26 that “during 2020, the municipality of Manatí fulfilled its capture plan of 60 tons; for the present calendar, the three oyster farms under fostering and development: Manatí Viejo, Los Navarros and Los Ingleses, should reach about 70.”

Oyster farming.The conditions are already being created for this, “we have around 10 thousand collectors placed in the main locations to acquire oyster larvae and we plan to close the year with more than 30 thousand collectors. For this, Ecovalor has provided resources, such as split and weighing scales, in the industry area; in addition to measuring equipment and office supplies that support the field registration work in the oyster farm,” he said.

In the Manatí Fishing base business unit (UEB), representatives of this sector update us on the plantings in the three farms. The prospects are encouraging "we want to become an oyster power at the national level," said Hernán Salazar, chief of Fisheries Operations.

"Practical expression of the training is evident among these women and men who today apply knowledge acquired in previous lessons on oyster farms," Hernán appreciated.

“With the use of local alternatives, we grind the oyster shell for animal feed, an initiative that will be supported in future stages also by Ecovalor with related technologies, and these are strategies that reduce the negative impacts of human activity in the mangroves."

Experts belonging to the Fisheries Research Center (CIP) carry out ecological studies and monitoring in these important areas, since the alternative of building oyster farms for harvesting avoids direct fishing in the mangroves. These researches also respond to the Fishing sector program, in terms of the evaluation and characterization of aquatic ecosystems of importance for fishery resources and aquaculture.

“The mangrove is identified as a priority line in the face of growing climate change and therefore, together with the National Center for Protected Areas, rector of Ecovalor, we agreed to implement actions for the protection of these ecosystems. The oyster harvest through farms is an example, Adalberto Segura assured.

“We have transformed the ways of doing things to benefit ourselves without affecting the natural resource so its continue giving us goods and services. The future of these mangroves is to become the nursery for coastal biodiversity,” he concluded.