Credit: Worawut Koedprang (Thailand)
Blood cockle contributes by around 27% (82,000 tons) of shell fish production and about 9% of total brackish water aquaculture production. For extensive culture, blood cockle seeds are collected from the wild, but since 1973, spats of Anadara granosa have been imported from Malaysia to overcome the shortage of natural supply and to promote the intensive culture system. The blood cockle is usually reared closed to the shore in estuarine areas with fine mud at the depths of 0.5-1 m. The cultivated area should not be exposed above sea level for more than 2-3 hours during low tide. For extensive systems, cockle spats of 0.3-0.5 g are collected from the natural seabed. The culture period is about two years. The photo shows the blood cockle species, Anadara nodifera.
