HA Neighbours

Using this platform, regional and national authorities as well as future Baltic mussel farmers can assess the optimal locations for mussel farms and their expected environmental impacts. The platform combines spatial modelling of environmental parameters (e.g. to determine the mussel growth potential) and mussel farm related ecosystem services (e.g. nutrient extraction services) with spatial data related to marine resources usages. The system covers fishery, eutrophication, shipping and nature conservation, which makes it possible to quickly identify conflicts between the farms and other users.

Future mussel farmers can learn from this factsheet about the main factors that are important for a new start-up of mussel production in the Baltic Sea, such as water salinity and depth, placement, farming technologies, growth cycle and harvest period, production costs, and communication with neighbours.

The report supports maritime spatial planners from national, regional and local levels to run a planning process for establishing mussel farms in the Baltic Sea. It includes a description of several series of basic steps from “organizing stakeholder participation” to “defining and analysing existing and future conditions” as well as “monitoring and evaluating performance”.

Mussel farming can be used as one measure to reduce eutrophication of the Baltic Sea locally. This report addresses a wide circle of experts, including policy-makers, working with water quality issues and nutrient uptake from the sea. It explores how mussel farmers can receive payments for the provision of ecosystem services, e.g. nutrient recycling, habitats, water purification. The authors conclude that in the short run a ‘one size fits all scheme’ may be unrealistic. Ecosystem service payments for mussel farms should be tailored to the specific regional characteristics, where a mussel farm is situated.

The factsheet sums up the project’s studies on turning mussel meal into poultry feed. The factsheet is interesting for mussel and chicken farmers, and feed producers looking for new opportunities to develop their businesses. The partners concluded that mussel-based feed for poultry was an interesting raw material. The factsheet includes several recommendations for the future development of such a business case.