Development and prospect for scientific and technological innovation of mudflat mollusk breeding industry in Zhejiang

China has more than 1 512 300 hm² of coastal mud. The mudflat mollusks as the dominant species in the intertidal zone possess many advantages, including fast growth, strong adaptability and environmental friendliness. Therefore, the development of mudflat mollusk aquaculture has great prospects, superior conditions and considerable potential. Zhejiang province has a long history of mudflat mollusk aquaculture and developed distinct characteristics and advantages in the aspects of cultivation technology and model, artificial spat collection and seed breeding, large-scale breeding and breeding of new varieties. However, it also faces severe challenges in the technology innovations and development of the mollusk seed industry. This paper reviewed the history and current status of mudflat mollusk aquaculture industry, seed production technology, germplasm innovation and variety improvement in Zhejiang province. Arrangement of the topics around the highly efficient and accurate evaluation of economic traits, breeding technology innovation, breeding of new varieties with high quality and stress resistance, key technologies and equipment research of efficient propagation, and seed industry system construction were discussed. The key tasks of new varieties breeding and seed industry development of Zhejiang mudflat mollusk in the future, especially in the 14th Five-Year Plan period are proposed.