Project to test New England mussel growing potential
USA: Significant opportunities to build an offshore mussel farming industry exist in southern regions of the New England coast, according to a recent proposal.
The proposal, submitted by the Southern New England Offshore Mussel Project (SNEOM) to the Coastal Resources Management Commission (CRMC) point out that these opportunities could revamp the ailing Rhode Island fishing industry. Waters off Newport has been identified as one of several sited in the northeastern part of the United States to be tested for viability for mussel farming.
Two Newport lobstermen have submitted an application to CRMC. The project will be coordinated from Woods Hole Marine Biology Lab. In the application they ask for permission to install equipment to farm mussels, including planting mussels and monitor growth rates and pea crab infestation.
Specifications indicate that the mussel gear will be located about 10 meters below the ocean surface, and stretch between two buoys anchored 150 meters apart.
While the application is being reviewed, the first phase of the project is already underway. Seed mussels have already been collected, "socked" and suspended off a long line as a control.
If approved, the second phase will start next spring when additional 150 meter long lines will be placed out. One of these is planned to be installed off Newport.
Results from this project are expected towards the end of 2010.
A NOAA research study states that "The waters of southern New England, south of Cape Cod and west to Long Island Sound, are well suited to supporting rapid growth of blue mussels, and prior research has demonstrated the feasibility of growing mussels from seed to market size in less than 12 months, faster than other North American competitors."
• Global mussel production in 2004 was 2 million tons, valued at USD 1 billion in annual sales; • Blue mussel production peaked in 1998 at 551,400 tons, but by 2002 it had dropped to 425,900 tons; • Demand higher than supply; • In 2003, US produced 1,700 tons of mussels, and imported more than 20,000 tons, primarily from Canada and New Zealand.
