THE VARIED ROLES OF SNAILS - National Universities Commission

wide has served to renew interests in practices like oyster
cultures, mussel farms and aquatic snail farms , shrimp and
crayfish farms. Ways will be found for reducing the
impacts of increasing costs of feeds, shortage of fertilizers
that are required for improved aquaculture production as
well as combating aquatic pollution due to uncontrolled
application of pesticides, and herbicides.
A number of technological advances have occurred in
aquaculture since it was developed about 4000 years ago
mainly in South east Asia and China. A good example of
such advances is the catfish farming in USA, prawn and
shrimp farming in Canada and elsewhere in the world.
These modern technologies can be adapted for snails to
keep up with the requirements of rapid expansion of
productions.
In regions where intense crop farming is extensive lime is
always in serious demand. In such places it is common for
the local farmers to use Achatina or other snails’ shells
which they reduce in “Lime Kilns” as a by product in the
preparation of snail meals. The shell of Melania and
Corbiculaare are being used in this manner in Malaysia .
In areas where the soil is excessively acidic, as is the case
in humus soils of forests, the alkalizing effect of adding
crushed shells would be desirable as far as most crops are
concerned. But on the other hand, in coralline soils which
are already excessively basic and should not have more
calcareous materials added to them. This suggests that if
snail shells are ever used in formulating fertilizers, two
different kinds should be made available:
(a) one with shell fragments and
(b) one without shell fragments.
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