Comparing traditional vs. biodegradable seed mussel collectors (SMCs) for seed settlement, seed density, and seed growth: Effect of deployment depth and location

• DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaeng.2023.102344
• Publication Date: 2023-05-25T17:16:09Z
• Authors: Lisanne A. van de...; Jildou Schotanus; Jacob J. Capelle; Tjeerd J. Bouma
• Keywords: Cockle

Mussel bottom culture is historically based on transplanting wild mussel seed to designated plots. Seed collectors (SMCs) that are deployed in the water column gradually replacing benthic beds for resource provisioning. Traditional SMCs consist of weighted filamentous nylon ropes. The performance promising, but major disadvantages increased cost, effort, and use non-sustainable materials. In this study, we developed an innovative SMC: BioShell-SMC. It consists a coconut core rope surrounded by empty cockle shells held place biodegradable socking. advantage system compared traditional it provides sustainable material suitable on-bottom placement. We its relative SMC at different deployment depths locations used Dutch Wadden Sea Oosterschelde. results from experiment indicated six out nine biomass was comparable between two collector types. On both types, higher than also found development not affected depth, though mussels were more numerous shorter deep water. current study provide promising start toward collection cultivation.