A MUSSEL producer SAYS
In the pristine, albeit icy waters of Saldanha Bay on the West Coast, Blue Ocean Mussels farm with black mussels on 50 ha of ocean surface. SJ Poggenpoel, production manager, explains the fascinating production process.
How does the production process work?
The mussels spawn when the water temperature changes, especially as the summer months approach. This is where we get our reserve stock. We have 44 rafts, each with an average of 800 ropes (6 metres each). The mussels attach themselves to and grow on these ropes. Each raft produces about 24 tons of mussels every six to seven months. We harvest daily, starting early in the morning until we reach our quota. During summer the southeaster poses a problem; therefore, we try and harvest the mussels before the wind picks up in the afternoons.
What makes Saldanha Bay so ideal for aquaculture?
The West Coast water is plankton-rich, ensuring enough food for the mussels. Mussels take in food by filtering sea water and absorbing plankton. Saldanha Bay, especially the lagoon, is also sheltered from the rough seas.
What happens to mussels that don’t grow large enough during the first production cycle?
Mussels are first graded by machine and then by hand on
