Mussels are bivalve mollusks. The species we farm is the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and is commonly found naturally all around the world. Mussels feed on plankton and as we are farming them in their natural environment they can follow their normal growth process with little to no interference.
Mussels reproduce by spawning, producing microscopic larvae which drift around on the tide for a couple of weeks until enough calcium is laid down in the shell and they sense it is time to settle on the seabed. These small mussels (seed) rain down in enormous quantities in order to outnumber their predators; maximizing their chances of survival. These mussels compete with each other for food and oxygen and if left to nature around 98% of these tiny mussels would die. By harvesting some of the surplus seed and spreading them out on specially selected aquaculture lease sites, we can increase the total number of mussels that reach market size. Once on the lease site, we monitor the mussels for the next two years until they have reached their optimum size and quality; sweet and tender.
Mussels reproduce by spawning, producing microscopic larvae which drift around on the tide for a couple of weeks until enough calcium is laid down in the shell and they sense it is time to settle on the seabed. These small mussels (seed) rain down in enormous quantities in order to outnumber their predators; maximizing their chances of survival. These mussels compete with each other for food and oxygen and if left to nature around 98% of these tiny mussels would die. By harvesting some of the surplus seed and spreading them out on specially selected aquaculture lease sites, we can increase the total number of mussels that reach market size. Once on the lease site, we monitor the mussels for the next two years until they have reached their optimum size and quality; sweet and tender.
Our Aquaculture vessel “Stewardship” is equipped with specialized harvest and processing machines to clean and grade the mussels so that they are sand- free, sweet and ready to be packed for market. Any undersized mussels go back on the lease to continue growing. We harvest to order to ensure that our customers can enjoy really fresh mussels. We are the only producer of seabed cultivated mussels in North America, and you can taste the difference!