Jul
29
Mussel detachment worries producers
Filed Under EN
Mussel farming rafts in Arousa estuary. (Photo: Itomonfragüe/YouTube)
Mussel detachment worries producers
SPAIN
Thursday, July 30, 2015, 03:30 (GMT + 9)
The mussel industry in Arousa is concerned about the detachment of bivalves being recorded in several rafts in the area, a problem that is not new, but that this year has been intensified.
Producers explain the mussels fail to adhere strongly enough to the ropes on which they are farmed so they come loose and end up in the bottom of the water.
A possible cause of these detachments would be the presence of a marine worm that often cohabitates with this bivalve molluscs, which mussel farmers call ‘peanut’ and this year seems to be much more abundant than at other times.
The industry says that the action of this worm, coupled with closures of the polygons due to the presence of red tide, make the mussel become too weak to properly fasten to the ropes, the newspaper La Voz de Galicia informed.
Mussel producers expect the research project Mytiga, which has begun to be developed by the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and the Mussel Regulating Council of Galicia, helps determine why these bivalves get detached, among other facts.
The aim of this study is to analyze how climate change is altering the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis farming cycles.
As part of the study, constant monitoring of the mussel production will be carried out in Arousa estuary to quantify the detachments from the farming ropes and their development along the Galician mussel production cycle.
Five rafts of the estuary have been selected for controls to be performed every 21 days.
Experts will monitor the condition of the molluscs, the strength of the byssus threads and the flora and fauna with which they share the area.
Sensors that take data on the state of the bivalves will be set up as well as others recording environmental information such as waves, water turbidity, salinity or temperature in the vicinity of the raft.
Meanwhile, recent analysis made by the Technological Institute for the Control of the Marine Environment of Galicia (INTECMAR) in the Galician estuaries indicate the lipophilic toxin refuses to subside.
This week there were more closures of mussel polygons so only those remaining open are in the Arousa estuary: Ribeira B; A Pobra G, B, C, E.1; Vilagarcía A; Cambados A2 E, A1, D; and O Grove A, the newspaper Faro de Vigo informed.
Related article:
– Canned mussels meet consumer information regulations, states ANFACO
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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