Mariculture in Santa Catarina: the productive chain generated by the coordinated effort of research, extension and technological development

Currently, the mollusc production chain in Santa Catarina accounts for 98% of all national production. This is an excellent example of how an organized and coordinated work between research and extension institutions can effectively solve real problems and bring up new possibilities for work and job creation. Among the institutions that have been dedicated, in the last three decades, to technological development focused on the needs of this production chain, we can highlight the role of UFSC, as a fundamental link for the creation and maintenance of this activity, through the Marine Molluscs Laboratory, has concentrated on the research and extension related to the production of bivalve molluscs. This paper presents the entire history of the development of the productive chain, as well as the possibilities of future growth of this important economic activity in the state.