Mussel system sampling
We are excited to share great news from our blue mussel aquaculture system! We have successfully landed the first full-scale mussel samples from our offshore site, located 80 km off the Sylt coast, near the FINO3 research platform. Our semi-submerged, tube-based system has proven its resilience, withstanding heavy winter storms, and enabling the settlement of juvenile mussels, which we have now sampled extensively. While the mussel distribution was somewhat patchy, it provides crucial insights into optimal growth conditions such as timing, water depth, and the effectiveness of the four different settlement materials used.
Additionally, our storage capacity is overflowing with freshly harvested mussels, from which key growth parameters (individual weight, width, length, etc.) are being meticulously measured. We’ve also collected replicated samples for biofouling from the nets, offering further valuable data.
The information gathered from this unique offshore location will be instrumental in further analysis and contribute to the baseline data used for both business and ecosystem-relevant modeling by our partners.
Stay tuned for more updates and deliverables on this exciting mussel harvest!
Pictures above: Impressions of mussel sampling at FINO3.
