Resumen

GIL, Humberto A  y  MORENO, María A. Explotación y comercialización de la ostra de mangle, Crassostrea rhizophorae, en algunas playas turísticas del estado Sucre, VenezuelaExploitation and commercialization of the mangrove oyster, Crassostrea rhizophorae, in some tourist beaches of Sucre state, Venezuela. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2007, vol.25, n.3, pp.215-219. ISSN 0798-7269.

ABSTRACT The mangrove oyster (Crassostrea rhizophorae) is distributed along the Caribbean Sea up to the coasts of Brazil. In Venezuela, it is broadly distributed in the center-oriental coasts. This specie is exploited with commercial purposes, which in most of the cases comes from the extraction of natural banks, although it is also cultivated in the oriental coast of Falcon state. The object of this study was to determine the current state of exploitation and commercialization of the oyster, since it is considered a nutritious resource and an important economic sustenance for the coastal populations. The study was carried out from February 2006 until April 2007 in four tourist beaches of Sucre state. It was selected nine retailers of oysters in Playa Colorada, four in San Luis, two in Quetepe beach, and two in the Bay of Mochima, who were interviewed to know the commercialization process. It was taken 1,113 oysters in a random way in the different points of sale and it was measured the overall length of each specimen. The commercial activity is realized by the extractors, the extractors-salespersons, and salespersons. It was determined that the biggest number of salespersons were at Playa Colorada beach. The commercialization was carried out during the whole year, mostly during holidays and vacation time, being this activity the main sustenance of the family group. It was obtained an overall length average of the oyster between 4.06 and 4.67 cm. The exploitation was carried out in an irrational form; without fulfill the fishing regulations of Venezuela

Palabras clave : Oyster; Crassostrea rhizophorae; commercialization.