Baltic Musselnetwork
The Baltic Musselnetwork wants to give a platform to scientists, practitioners and everybody else dealing with mussel cultivation in the Baltic Sea. Objectives are to exchange recent practical, technical, ecological, economic, social and modeling experiences in mussel farming in the Baltic Sea as well as providing an overview about processing and products. Topics like the role of mussel farming in eutrophication management will for sure need further discussion.
The idea of a Baltic Musselnetwork came up after two successful workshops on that topic in Warnemünde and Kiel in summer 2011. The good cooperation between all participants shouldn’t be limited only to meetings. Within the network, dialogue and exchange of experiences or research results shall be supported.
The network is open to everybody. To become part of it, please contact Gerald Schernewski (Leibniz-Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Gerald.Schernewski@io-warnemuende.de).
Baltic Lagoon Network “BALLOON”: http://balticlagoons.net/
First Workshop „Mussel farming in the Baltic: experiences and perspectives“ 8th of June 2011
At the 8th of June, the first workshop about „Mussel farming in the Baltic: experiences and perspectives“ took place at our institute. Recent developments and future possibilities were discussed by 26 participants from 5 countries. The range of topics was manifold: Experiences in mussel cultivation from Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania and Germany gave insights in research as well as practical aspects. Which materials are suitable, which locations are best for mussel development? The integration of mussels in a nutrient cycle (especially Nitrogen) were discussed, mussels could therefore be used as fodder, fertilizer or for human consumption. Further, the question of funding was raised. Local consumption or a trade with nutrient certificates just as subsidies are different possibilities. Especially the use of mussels for improvement of water quality and transparency due to their high filtration capacity was an important topic, which becomes even more pressing in regard to the goals of the Water Framework Directive. In addition, rising water temperatures because of climate change could increase the problem. Mussel farms could be part of a mitigation strategy.
However, mussel cultivation is a relative new topic, at least for some regions in the Baltic. Therefore, research still has to answer many questions and uncertainties.
Presentations:
Jens Kjerulf Petersen: Current experiences with mussel mitigation cultures
Odd Lindahl: Mussel farming in the Baltic may recycle nutrients into high quality feedstuff
Peter Krost: Technical and economical feasability of mussel farming in the western baltic
Anastasija Zaiko: Mussel farming in the Curonian Lagoon - Challenges and Perspectives
Mussel workshop "Bivalve Aquaculture in the Baltic Sea – Environment, Climate Change, Modelling" 12th of July 2011
After a start-up workshop about mussel cultivation in Warnemünde this June, a follow-up meeting was organised by CRM (Coastal Research & Management) in Kiel in context of the project RAdOst on the 12th June 2011. Scientists and practitioners were exchanging experiences in mussel cultivation und discussing possible future developments, following the talk in Warnemünde. Additionally, a visit to the mussel farm of CRM was offered. The Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde presented its model, which, inter alia, estimates potential effects of mussel cultivation on aquatic eco-systems and displays nutrient cycles. Joint measurement campaigns were planned to validate the model and get a better understanding of what happens in and around a mussel farm. Finally, all participants agreed that cooperation should go on after the workshops in Warnemünde and Kiel, therefore a “Baltic Mussel Network” was founded.