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• Mussel (Mytilus edulis) cultivation is the main form of molluscan shellfish production in the UK, worth ~£4.7 million in 2001, about two thirds of which came from Wales. • The commercial mussel industry is dependent on harvesting wild seed mussel beds. Important areas for seed mussel harvest are Caernarfon Bay, Morecambe Bay, South Wales and the Wash.

The mussel culture industry is one of the largest and most valuable fisheries in the UK representing almost 90% of total shellfish aquaculture production by weight in England and Wales with a value of around £14 million per year. Continuing productivity is significantly dependant on the movement of mussel seed from wild settlement areas to cultivation areas. Unfortunately, these shellfish movements can also spread pests such as the non-native slipper limpet (Crepidula fornicata) which has the potential to have a devastating effect on both fisheries and marine eco-systems as it out-competes other species for food and space as well as depositing pseudo-faeces that builds up to create cohesive ‘muds’. An accidental introduction of slipper limpets into the major UK mussel culture area of the Menai Straits, North Wales has recently occurred following a movement of mussel seed contaminated with slipper limpets from the English Channel. This led to urgent remedial action having to be taken by industry which involved removing the infested mussel seed and then smothering of any remaining slipper limpets with new slipper limpet free seed. There is a need therefore for the industry to self regulate and minimise risks in such transfers. Failure to do so will otherwise result in measures being imposed on industry in this respect. Positive action is now currently being undertaken in some regions as can be seen by the development of a Code of Good Practise by the Bangor Mussel Producers.

These pages contain technical advice on the cultivation of mussels on the seabed. They are complimented by an economic modelling tool that enables you to explore how a potential seabed-grown mussel business might work. Key words: Aquaculture; Mussel; Scallop; Oyster; Clam; Halibut; Turbot; Cod; Manila; Pacific; Hyperbook; Economic; Model; cultivation; farming; King; Queen; algae; trestle, rope; cage; seabed; suspended; hatchery; nursery; production;

An initial review focused on the UK consumption of seafood products. This report considers developments, implications and practical responses from industry and Seafish.

These pages contain technical advice on the cultivation of mussels on ropes. They are complimented by an economic modelling tool that enables you to explore how a potential rope-grown mussel business might work. Key words: Aquaculture; Mussel; Scallop; Oyster; Clam; Halibut; Turbot; Cod; Manila; Pacific; Hyperbook; Economic; Model; cultivation; farming; King; Queen; algae; trestle, rope; cage; seabed; suspended; hatchery; nursery; production;

Seafish summary of the United Nations Food and Aquaculture Organisation report: Aquaculture 2010 Regional Review - Europe, published 9 November 2011.

Consideration has been given to the problems of re-seeding mussel beds and the practical problems assessed. Trials have been conducted with a Dutch type dredge.

An overview of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the UK seafood sector in the first half of 2020.

This is Seafish's response to the call for comments on the draft Marine Conservation Zone Project Ecological Network Guidance to the Regional Stakeholder Groups on Identifying Marine Conservation Zones, put out by Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The original consultation document is available from http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/100317_ENG_v8-0_tcm6-17607.pdf. Seafish is concerned with the lack of transparency in the development of the draft guidance and with the weak scientific evidence on which the draft guidance is based.

The Shellfish Stakeholder Working Group (SSWG) commissioned Seafish to undertake a review of the application of the Official Control Regulations that apply to live bivalve production in EU Member States, with a focus on the microbial requirements.

Final minutes of the Aquaculture Common Issues Group meeting held in London on 15 September 2015.

This interim report is submitted to Seafish as part of the assignment titled ‘A review of the services provided by Seafish in relation to the UK aquaculture industry’. The preparation of this report represents Deliverable 3 of the assignment. The structure and content of the report is based on previous agreement between the contractor and the client as presented in the inception report. The contractors seek review, comments and approval from Seafish on this interim report.