Musselby

Britney Wagner

NOT MUSCLE!

Blue mussels consist of a group of three closely related taxa, a.k.a. the Mytilus edulis complexMytilus edulis – native to the North AtlanticMytilus galloprovincialis – native to the Mediterranean, Western Europe, and parts of the Southern HemisphereMytilus trossulus – native to the North Pacific, northern parts of the North Atlantic, and the Baltic Sea

The Mytilus edulis complex

China and Spain lead worldwide mussel production Growing in popularity in the U.S.Mostly distributed around the U.S. from MaineTypically $2-$4 per poundBest time to get mussels is from October – May, before spawningVery nutritious

Economic importance

The life cycle of a mussel starts with developing eggs inside the female The female carries her eggs inside her shell in pouches called gills The eggs then develop into glochidium, which are then set free to find a host fish The glochidium then make themselves into a cyst, like a caterpillar forming a cocoon After riding on their host fish for several weeks they then change into a tiny mussel, fall off the fish, then land on the bottom of the body of water where they grow into adults

Life Cycle and Larval Stages

Most cultured mussels are produced in less than 2 years Hatchery production is based upon conditioning adult mussels by using algal food and temperature control The natural maturation cycle is mimicked at the hatchery

Reproduction In Captivity

Mature mussels are cleaned up and hung as a group in larval tanks Spawning is induced by thermal shock or by stripping Takes 24-hrs for the larvae to reach the straight hinge stage Larvae are fed and allowed to grow until they are ready to set onto ropes (13-15 days) Deployed in setting tanks, the mussels are transferred at a 1 mm size to a nursery, where they will remain until they reach 6-10 mm They are then moved outside into grow-out systems

Methods Used

Mussel Farming

Suspension feedersFeed by actively filtering particles from the waterFeed on both living and dead phytoplankton, decomposed macrophytes, or resuspended detritus

Feeding

Blue mussels have the ability to withstand wide fluctuations in salinity, dryness, temperature, and oxygen tension ( euryhaline & eurythermal)Do not thrive in salinities less than 15pptWell acclimated for water temperature from 5-20 degrees Celsius, with a high tolerance of about 29 degrees Celsius for adultsTypically are found in intertidal habitats

Environment

Advantages

Hard shellEuryhaline Eurythermal

Disadvantages

SmallCan’t swimGood source of unsaturated fatty acids for humans

ENJOY!