New ‘blue mussel’ in Dagupan attracts PHL, US experts

Experts from the Philippines and United States are studying what could be a new species of mussel discovered in some fish pens in Dagupan City in Pangasinan.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said the blue mussels have been harvested for three months now, GMA Dagupan's Jasmin Gabriel reported Wednesday.

"Kung paano talagang lumitaw we don’t know kasi kung pag-aaralan yung area kung saan lang dapat ito mabuhay, malayong-malayo ang Philippines," BFAR National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center head Westly Rosario said.

The BFAR said blue mussels are usually found in cold areas like Europe.

A blue mussel (mytilus edulis) has a black shell with a gold interior. Its meat is said to be tastier, the report said.

"Malinamnam talaga siya, even yung sabaw kapag malalasahan talagang masarap," said Eduardo Bautista, who harvests blue mussels.

So far, there are two kinds of mussel in the Philippines – the brown mussel (perna-perna) which cannot be eaten because it is to small; and green mussel (perna-veridis).

The blue mussels are sold for P50 to P60 per kilo. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News