Cultured Blue Mussel

Blue Mussel (Mytilus Edulis)

Mussels are bivalves, having two equally shaped shells linked together on one side by a hinge structure. The outside of the shell is usually glossy bluish or bluish black, but sometimes pale brown and rayed, and the inside is generally white/pale violet in color. Inside the shells the meat of the mussel is usually pink to orange (female) or cream colored (male).

CCMC cultured mussels are grown in mesh stockings that are suspended from longlines (ropes) in the water. These ropes are anchored at the bottom and suspended using a brightly coloured lobster buoy for a float.

Like most bivalves, mussels are filter feeders. Mussels are able to obtain all of their nutritional requirements from the natural environment and do not require additional feeding.
 

Mussel culture is benign and environmentally friendly. Rope culture allows mussels to be harvested easily by means of a winch and pulley on a boat. The ropes are pulled up so that the socks can be removed. Unlike the wild fishery, it is not necessary to drag the ocean floor to harvest the mussels.