Bussu

The bussu (Neritina punctulata) is a small snail-like freshwater shellfish, resembling the wilks that are found in seawater. The bussu is found in the rivers of Portland, Jamaica’s northeastern parish, particular in the Rio Grande Valley, Swift River Valley and Buff Bay Valley.  The estimation of the natural lifespan is at least 3 – 7 years. It clings to rocks and stones just below the water’s surface and is gathered throughout the year. To prepare it for eating, the bussu is lightly boiled and then removed from the shell. It may then be boiled with other ingredients to make the locally popular bussu soup or prepared as a meat dish. Different preparations including the bussu are part of the traditional diet of the Maroons, the local indigenous people.   The bussu has long been prepared for local celebrations as part of the cultural tradition of Portland. It has been claimed to have properties as an aphrodisiac, being especially good for men. Bussu festivals are held from time to time, especially in Swift River, another community in Portland. This summertime festival celebrates the secrets of the bussu in a festival lasting well into the night. It features many unique Jamaican traditions, such as kumina, which uses drumming, dancing and chanting to summon ancestral spirits. Then there are bruckins and the dinki-mini, traditional dances associated with the emancipation of slaves. Various preparations and recipes of bussu are served, and bussu-shell earrings and related handicrafts are sold.   About 200 kg of bussu are harvested and sold annually. Irresponsible overharvesting and chemical residues are two issues negatively affecting the bussu population. It is also being displaced in its natural habitat by introduced invasive species, such as the quilted melania snail (Thiara granifera) from southeast Asia. Bussu is not only a traditional food source of the Maroon people, but is also part of the developing tourism industry in the area, and so, its preservation means continued food and economic security.