An Approximation to Agribusiness Development in the Value Chain of the Bivalve Mollusk "Anadara Tuberculosa (Sowerby, 1833) (Arcidae)"

The mollusk "Anadara tuberculosa (Sowerby, 1833) (Arcidae)", known in Ecuador with the common name of "Concha Prieta", in Mexico as the clam "Pata de Mula", in France with the name "Arche Noire" and in England as "Blood Cockle", is a mangrove bivalve exploited all along the Pacific coast. It is a species with great possibilities for fishing development. In its adult phase, it lives only in mangrove swamps, always associated with the red mangrove "Rhizophora mangle" in the intertidal zone, where it grows almost completely buried in the mud. In Colombia, where it is called "Piangua", it is one of the most exploited bivalve species on the Pacific coast. The artisanal activity which benefits the communities is usually performed by families that collect these mollusks for food or to commercialize them in the local market. Currently, the resource, besides being used for consumption and local commerce, is being exported from Colombia to Ecuador. In Ecuador, a constant extraction has been maintained during the period 2004-2008, with an estimated total landing of 55.3 million shells among all receiving ports. In the Province of El Oro, the extraction and commercialization of Anadara tuberculosa is an economic activity with low performance and absence of added value in the production chain. The objective of this research is to explore the problem of agribusiness in the value chain of the bivalve mollusk Anadara tuberculosa. Specifically, to establish its possible causes and consequences, as part of a broader research oriented towards the development of an agribusiness management model that promotes its sustainable exploitation and entry into international markets, in particular the European market, in which consumers of Latin American origin, represent a segment that could be interested in its intake, complying with the added value standards and quality required.