Tags: Aquaculture, Handicrafts
By KC Santos
JIABONG, SAMAR – A group of fishermen in this town found ways to use the shells of mussels or tahong as an answer to “red tide.”
Red tide, or algal bloom, causes tahong to become very poisonous. During the red tide “season” consumers are often warned not to buy this otherwise nutritious seafood.
The Jiabong Mussel Producers and Vendors Multipurpose Cooperative has found ways to turn mussel shells, often discarded as wastes, into functional and decorative household items like serving trays, wall décor, wood tiles, placemats, vase, picture frames, and jewelry boxes.
Aside from providing a alternative livelihood during times when tahong cannot be sold to consumers, the mussel farmers also showed their creativity through “mussel crafting.”
In fact, the Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry through Promoting Regional Opportunities for Enterprise and Livelihood (PROPEL) Development Programs upon seeing the vast potential of mussel crafting in Samar, extended help through trainings and seminars geared toward better marketing and promotion of the Jiabongs’ alternative source of income.
Beginning with just 49 members, the growing industry of mussel crafting has now given livelihood to over 300 residents of Jiabong. The workload is evenly distributed to farmers, crafters, and also food processors because mussel meat is still their main product.
Tahong farming has long been a major source of livelihood for Samar. Now, fishermen are finding even more ways to earn from tahong even during difficult times.
(Photos taken from seachoice.org)
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