Unlike most forms of fishing or fish farming, growing mussels on ropes suspended from rafts or long-lines has a minimal adverse impact on the environment.

This is because no chemicals, food or foreigner species are added to the water. Clean ropes are simply hung in the water and wild mussel spat, free swimming in the oceans, settles onto the ropes and starts feeding on the plankton in the water.

When the mussels are big enough, the ropes are lifted aboard a harvesting barge, stripped off the ropes and taken for cleaning, depuration and packing.

The environmental benefits of farming mussels on ropes is well recognised by many groups. See for example: eartheasy.com, www.mbayaq.org & www.fishonline.org

In addition to providing an excellent habitat for mussels, the ropes provide an equally good habitat for many other forms of marine life. Rather like a kelp forest, the ropes provide an environment where many forms of invertebrate can thrive.

Large invertebrates and vertebrates prey on the worms and small fish that inhabit the ropes and their surroundings. It is not unusual to see birds and seals feeding on fish livings amongst the ropes.

The local biodiversity is considerably enhanced around mussel farms.

Cormorants

Photos are by Matt Miciak: www.mattmiciak.co.uk