Mussel culture on floating rafts was pioneered in Spain, where over 200,000 tons per year are cultivated. Rafts have the advantage of growing a large amount of mussels in a small area (reducing competition with other uses of our coastal resources), the mussels can be protected from predation by sea ducks by using nets, and the rafts create favorable hydrodynamics for mussel feeding. Seed mussels are collected by hanging our 45 foot long pegged ropes in the water in mid-summer, and the ropes are thinned to optimal growing densities about 6-8 months later. Seed mussels are attached to grow-out ropes using a machine which wraps biodegradable cotton around the mussels in a sock. The grow-out ropes take about 12-14 months to mature before harvest. All the inputs into mussel raft culture are obtained locally (rafts and anchors from Newport, Maine, ropes and pegs from Warren, Maine, wood from Waldo County, vessels from Hancock County).
Mussel raft culture is environmentally sustainable: the mussels feed on natural phytoplankton in monitored and approved shellfish growing areas, they are a native species using collected wild seed, the rafts and mussel cultures act as artificial reefs attracting dozens of species of invertebrates, fish and birds. Even better, the mussels taste good and are good for you! Enjoy!
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Mussel Aquaculture: Farming the Sea in Maine PDF 6MB
