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Denmark blue shell mussel

MSC status

Certified as sustainable on 15th January 2010. 

Summary

Species: Mussel (Mytilus edulis)
Location: Limfjord, Denmark
Fishing methods: Mussel dredge
Vessels: 27
Number of fisheries: 1

Fishery Fact Sheet

Download the Denmark blue shell mussel fishery fact sheet for US letter paper (PDF, 245kb)

More about mussel

The blue mussel, Mytilus edulis is a sessile bivalve attached to the substratum by a byssus. Mussels can withstand wide variation in salinity, desiccation, temperature and oxygen concentration, resulting in the ability to occupy a large variety of microhabitats. Mussels can be found on any substratum providing a secure anchorage such as rocks, stones, gravel, shingle, dead shells, and even mud and sand. In soft bottom areas as the Limfjord, the mussels form stabilised mussel beds of interconnected mussels and dead shells. Mussel beds are often dominant in terms of biomass, and form a key component of many marine communities.

The blue mussel Mytilus edulis is a filter-feeding bivalve filtering primary on micro-algae and debris, but at lower rates also on zooplankton (Maar et al 2008). The tidal range in Limfjorden is low (~0.2m) and the water circulation is forced by the predominantly eastern-directed wind. This low energy system is eutrophic, receiving nutrients from surrounding areas and the primary production is high, locally exceeding 1000 mg C m2 day-1 in summer.

More about the fishing methods

The mussels are fished by one or two dredges on each vessel. The dredge is the dutch type of mussel dredge. The 2 metre wide iron frame has a maximum weight of 100 kg. On the frame is attached a 2-3 metre long bag. The bottom part of the bag is a made up of a chain link matrix and the upper part of the bag is made of nylon mesh. Many of the fishermen use a grille of iron bars placed over the mouth of the dredge to prevent any large substratum material such as boulders from entering the bag.

Fishery tonnage

Approximately 30,000 tonnes

Commercial market

More than 90% of the landings are exported as single frozen mussels or canned commodities to the rest of Europe, Russia and the Middle East.

Actual eligibility date

The actual eligibility date for the Denmark blue shell mussel is the 27th January 2009.

 

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