Pilot mussel meal production

Ellös, West Sweden

Many Baltic coastal areas suffer from eutrophication caused by nutrient emissions from human activities and operations. The natural phytoplankton stock uses the nutrients and acts as a catch crop on which blue mussels (Mytilus spp.) feed. When the mussels are harvested the nutrients are recycled from sea to land and can then be reused.

In the south-western parts of the Baltic Sea, mussels may reach seafood size, but in the majority of the Baltic the blue mussel is too small and fragile. Farm trials in the Baltic Sea have demonstrated that mussel farming is a possible measure for improving coastal water quality.

New processes for producing mussel meal

Mussel meal is dried and grinded mussel meat, which has been shown to have properties almost similar to fish meal. Mussel meal has successfully been tested as a high value protein feed component for layers and chickens. Feed trials on pigs, rainbow trout and arctic char have also reported positive results. The production of mussel meal at a large scale requires a robust, energy saving and cost effective process. The technique of separating the mussel meat from the shells is then essential. Such a method, based on lysing, has been developed and is patent pending at EPO. Farming of “feed” mussels is more costly compared to catch fish and make fish meal. However, mussel farming can be regarded as an environmental measure and the mussel farmer should be paid for the environmental service. This extra income can bridge the gap in costs of using mussels for producing valuable feed at a competitive price.