Fresh mussel or ‘tahong’ in Filipino, tahong chips, tahong okoy, and frozen tahong meat – these are the products seen at the busy streets of Jiabong, a municipality in the province of Samar. The products embody mussel farmers’ hard work for years.
Jiabong was known as the “tahong capital” of the Philippines. With this, tahong farming remained as one of the primary sources of income for the communities living in the area. From here, tahong were supplied and transported to different parts of the country to Davao, Bicol, and Metro Manila.
As tahong continues to provide Filipinos with an affordable source of protein, the hard work of mussel farmers in Jiabong is gaining well-deserved recognition, with the province emerging as one of the country's largest producers.
To ensure that research and development initiatives remain responsive to the evolving needs of the mussel industry, the Inland Aquatic Resources Research Division (IARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) is conducting a reassessment of its Mussel Industry Strategic Science and Technology Program (ISP).
While significant efforts have already been done to support the industry, the reassessment aims to identify persistent and emerging gaps that can be addressed through Research and Development (R&D) programs. As part of this initiative, IARRD conducted consultation meetings with tahong farmers and key stakeholders in Samar to gather first-hand insights on the current state of mussel production and the challenges confronting the sector.
Among the major concerns raised by farmers was the frequent occurrence of red tide, which continues to have a significant impact on mussel production and livelihoods. According to them, red tide outbreaks can prevent harvesting activities for as long as six months, leaving many mussel farmers without a stable alternative source of income during affected periods.
Farmers also identified early harvesting practices as a key factor contributing to declining productivity. Harvesting mussels before they fully mature not only limits production potential, but also affects the natural replenishment of spat, which pose threats to the long-term sustainability of the resource.
In response, representatives from the local government shared their ongoing initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable mussel farming practices. These include the adoption of mussel longline, establishment of nurseries, and designation of spawning areas as strict no-harvest zones to ensure continuous resource sustainability.
While farmers acknowledged the benefits of the longline method, many noted that bamboo staking remains the more widely practiced approach because of its accessibility, local availability, and lower cost.
A separate roundtable discussion was also held with instructors and professors from Samar State University-Mercedes Campus and representatives from private farms and the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Samar. Discussions revolved around the potential adoption of available mussel production technologies by the private farm to further improve industry performance in the province.
The consultation also strengthened the interest of the private sector stakeholders in adopting the mussel technologies that could enhance mussel production and support long-term industry sustainability in Samar.
Participants observed that while mussel farming areas in Samar, particularly in Villareal and Maqueda Bay, have expanded considerably over the past years, production volume has recently declined. Farmers shared that their harvests, which previously required five to ten-wheeler trucks for hauling, have now dropped to only one to two-wheeler trucks. Stakeholders attributed this decline still largely due to overharvesting, where all available mussels are collected without allowing sufficient time for natural regeneration.
Despite these challenges, government agencies–PLGU, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and LGUs, continue to work closely with stakeholders to improve mussel production and promote sustainable resource management in Samar.
The insights gathered from the consultation will help the updating of DOST-PCAARRD's Mussel ISP and ensure that future R&D programs are responsive and aligned with the realities and needs of the industry while supporting its long-term resilience and growth.
These issues reflect the need for more relevant and responsive R&D programs that directly address the industry's most pressing gaps. With this, IARRD introduced several ongoing initiatives under the Mussel ISP that aim to maximize the value of mussels even beyond food production. Among these are research efforts exploring the conversion of mussel shells into nano-absorbents and fertilizers, as well as studies on mussel glycogen that can turn mussel to cosmetic and other high-value products.
Although these technologies are still undergoing further research and validation, they demonstrate the continuing commitment of the R&D sector to develop science-based solutions that respond to the realities faced by mussel-producing communities. More importantly, they serve as a reassurance that the challenges raised by stakeholders are being recognized and translated into concrete research priorities.
Through on-site visits to tahong production areas, direct conversations with farmers, and consultations with researchers, local government units, and industry stakeholders, DOST-PCAARRD gained a deeper understanding of the sector's realities. The issues identified, gaps raised, and experiences shared by the communities reflect the very foundation of research and development as it ensures that programs are rooted in the needs of the people that they aim to serve.