Blue Seed

Co-ordinator: Wageningen IMARES, The Netherlands
Irish Co-ordinator: AquaTT UETP Limited
Start:
Duration: 24 months
Funding: European Commission funded 6th Framework

For more information on the initiative:

Visit www.blueseedproject.com

Or contact:

Dr. Pauline Kamermans, Wageningen IMARES, Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies, P.O.Box 77, 4400 AB Yerseke, The Netherlands

Telephone: +31-113-672302 Fax: +31-113-573477 E-mail: Pauline.Kamermans@wur.nl Website: www.wageningenimares.wur.nl/UK/

Background:

The BLUE SEED project is a European Commission funded 6th Framework co-operative research project for the development of new technologies to ensure a reliable supply of high quality seed in blue mussel farming.

Objectives:

The long-term goals are

1. To secure a reliable supply of hatchery produced seed and

2. To develop techniques allowing farmers to sell high quality blue mussels year round.

A more reliable seed supply, and the possibility of bringing “all-season" mussels to the market will enhance competitiveness in all European Atlantic blue mussel producers. The availability of hatchery-produced seed will bring more stability to the market, long-term security in jobs, development of coastal areas and alternative jobs and products to fisheries. Given the 2-year duration of the project, the comparison will concentrate on spat and seed production.

It is hoped that commercial size hatchery mussels would become available approximately 1 year after the end of the project. It is estimated by the consortium that the combined effect of production stability and year round production can lead to a 25-30 % increase in annual production (€ 75 million).

Expected Outcomes:

Improved competitiveness of SME proposers and economic justification
The new technologies developed in this project will be applicable in all European Atlantic blue mussel producing countries, and will make it possible to reduce the fluctuations in annual production, and sell high quality blue mussels year round. The latter will also lead to an increase in total demand for locally produced mussels, and enable farmers to compete with imports from outside Europe (mainly from Chilli and New Zealand). It is estimated by the consortium that the combined effect of production stability and year round production can lead to a 25-30 % increase in annual demand in the European Community alone.

European dimension
Individual SMEs involved in the project cannot be expected to cover all the aspects involved in developing a reliable year round blue mussel production. For the SMEs, each one with limited resources, the benefit of forming a consortium with partners from all over Europe will be significant. As a consortium they hold the expertise that only a large multinational company could afford to manage.

Community societal benefits
Blue mussels are a traditional product in the European Community. The many hundreds of recipes for mussel found in the European Community prove the product is highly regarded and well accepted by consumers. In addition, mussels are healthy, tasty and produced in a sustainable way. Blue mussels are a “pure” biological product, with no need for fertilizers or high-energy feeds to enhance productivity during the grow-out phase, practices which are so typical with other types of aquatic or terrestrial meat production. Mussel meat contains only 1% fat, mostly (healthy) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA’s), 10% protein, and very few carbohydrates. Therefore, mussels can be regarded as the “light” product of the different types of meats and seafood available in the market.

Blue Seed

For more information on the initiative:

Background:

Objectives:

Expected Outcomes:

Partners: