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Pioneering offshore mussel farm – sustainable aquaculture in Devon

Devon’s pioneering offshore mussel farm uses the sea to meet the growing demand for more food. Farming mussels sustainably in Lyme Bay was the dream of John Holmyard and his family. Holmyard used his experience from mussel farms in Scotland and founded Offshore Shellfish, based in Brixham, Devon.

Mussels feed on plankton, the single cell algae at the base of the marine food chain. In Lyme Bay where water from the English Channel meets water from the Atlantic, sea temperatures are ideal for very good growth of plankton.

The mussel farm is the first in the country to be fully offshore. The mussels grow on underwater lines of rope anchored to the sea bed three to six miles off the Devon coast.  Thriving on the rich supplies of natural plankton, the meaty mussels can reach harvest size in just over a year.

Mussel farming boat-Lyme Bay

Mussel farming offshore is entirely natural and sustainable. The mussel larvae settle on the ropes in the spring and grow without need of fertilisers, medicines or artificial food supplies, absorbing carbon from the sea. Research by the University of Plymouth shows that the ropes have created new habitats rather like a floating reef, increasing biodiversity and providing shelter and food for other species.

For Holmyard and his team, there has been the added excitement of developing their own ideas and innovations. Their aim to produce high quality seafood from the open sea has been confirmed by the awarding of Best Aquaculture Practice (BAP) and Soil Association Organic certifications.

Mussels - credit https://offshoreshellfish.com/

Offshore mussel farming is not only a very good example of sustainable aquaculture. Mussels are high in protein, low in calories and rich in both vitamins and minerals. They are also very tasty and easy to cook. Offshore Shellfish products find ready markets in both the UK and Europe.

 

 

 

 

For more information and a video see Mussel Farming Services In Brixham I Offshore Shellfish

 

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