The Institute of Fish Processing Technology (IFPT), College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS), UP Visayas conducted a training on recirculating depuration technique for high quality and safe mussels, Perna viridis, on October 15-17, 2019 at UPV Miagao campus.
About 25-30 participants mostly processors, entrepreneurs, researchers and extension workers in the fisheries attended the 3-day “Training on Mussel Depuration for Business Enterprise Opportunity in the Community” to acquire knowledge and skills on the new mussel depuration technology.
“Depuration is a process of reducing or eliminating microorganisms to a level acceptable for direct human consumption through the process of holding live bivalve mollusks for a period of time under approved, controlled conditions in natural or artificial seawater suitable for the process (Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission, 2009),” stated Ms. Rose Mueda, the training coordinator and researcher of IFPT.
Mueda is the program leader of the Post Harvest Program for Sustainable, High Quality and Safe Mussel funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resource Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD-DOST) that developed the recirculating depuration technique to produce bigger, high quality and safe Philippine green mussels.
She underscored the importance of a post-harvest technology for mussels such as a depuration facility to reduce if not to eliminate the presence of pathogenic bacteria in mussels, which are filter-feeding in nature, to be safe for human consumption.
Base on their study, the recirculating depuration system was proven to eliminate bacterial load to acceptable levels and allow mussels to grow in its size. Hence, this training to disseminate the information on the feasibility and adoption of this new technology in the development of plans in establishing a business enterprise in the community.
Sought to increase awareness of the participants on the importance of depuration and to train them in using the recirculating depuration facility, the training provided lectures to better understand the mussel industry in the country and introduced available technologies to produce quality and safer mussel products.
The participants attended practical-workshop sessions on pre-depuration and depuration processes of mussels, classroom exercises, actual demonstration and hands-on activities in the operation of the recirculating mussel depuration facility, actual harvesting and handling of mussel on site.
PCAARRD-DOST funded the training. (With sources from IFPT)
