7 September, 2007

The NAFC Marine Centre, in Shetland, is conducting two separate studies designed to help the local shellfish industry become more productive.

Since May the Shellfish Biological and Environmental Monitoring study has been looking at mussel spat recruitment and settlement patterns at four different farmed mussel sites around the isles.

Dr Richard Shelmerdine, who is leading the research, said: "Through regular monitoring, the industry stands to benefit greatly from increased success in site selection, deployment of spat collectors and ultimately, increased mussel production."

Kenny Pottinger, of East Voe Shellfish, whose company is participating in the research, said: "Up until now spat settlement has been left to chance - we put ropes in the water and wait for settlement to naturally occur.

"Given that spat settlement is the most important aspect of mussel farming, understanding the science behind it is extremely important."

The second project, Enhancing Production Supply for the Shetland Mussel Industry, led by Sara Saravanan, is trying to establish whether hatchery produced spatted ropes can bridge the gaps in natural spatfall.

Chief executive of industry body Seafood Shetland, Ruth Henderson, said the mussel farming industry had significant potential for growth.

"Shetland's production represents over 50 per cent of Scotland 's total rope grown mussel production, which is 2,100 tonnes valued at between £2 and £3 million," Ms Henderson said.

"Despite this, when our mussel farmers compared the level of scientific study into spatfall with other mussel producing areas, they realised that they were working on simple anecdotal evidence rather than relying on the formal evidence that existed elsewhere.

"By putting together a funding package and engaging the experienced staff at the NAFC Marine Centre, we now have a feasibility study in place that we are confident will prove extremely useful to the industry in optimising production and increasing the chances of success for individual sites."

The research has been funded by Seafood Shetland, Shetland Development Trust, the NAFC Marine Centre and the UHI Hi Links Programme.