Table 4. Benefits provided by mussels.
Benefits provided by mussels as pointed by respondents.
| Benefit | Number a | % |
|---|---|---|
| Food for humans | 198 | 31 |
| Food for other species | 167 | 26 |
| Ecosystem improvement | 65 | 10 |
| Purification of seawater | 61 | 10 |
| High content in minerals and vitamins | 21 | 3 |
| Good for human health | 20 | 3 |
| Habitat | 19 | 3 |
| Increase the biodiversity | 15 | 2 |
| Benefit other species | 15 | 2 |
| Harvesting | 11 | 2 |
| Jobs | 11 | 2 |
| Indicator of water quality | 10 | 2 |
| Tourism enhancement | 7 | 1 |
| Commerce enhancement | 6 | 1 |
| Wellbeing for visitors on the beach | 4 | 1 |
| Ornamentation | 3 | 0 |
| Medical use | 2 | 0 |
| Iodine rich | 2 | 0 |
| Local culture | 2 | 0 |
| Animal wellbeing | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 641 |
Notes.
a
Several interviewees cited multiple benefits.