Project Details
Description
The concept of MuMiHus was to develop and document mussel farming as a means of mitigating effects of eutrophication of the coastal zone.
Specific objectives of the project were
1. to adapt known mussel farming techniques to production of maximal biomass at lowest possible costs.
2. to assess environmental impact of blue mussel extraction culture with special focus on benthic effects.
3. to integrate the results in an ecosystem based management model in order to make an overall assessment of environmental impact.
4. to assess effects of low salinity and cyanobacteria occurrence on growth of blue mussels through bioenergetic studies.
5. to develop management tools for and economic analysis of extraction cultures as a mitigation measure.
6. to assess bioaccumulation of contaminants in blue mussels as a prerequisite for future use of mussels as feed in husbandry.
MuMiHus demonstrated that mussel farming may be an efficient means of mitigation in terms area efficiency and it was shown that more biomass could have been produced per area unit.
Environmental impact studies and modelling showed that in highly eutrophic areas like Skive Fjord, negative environmental impact of mussel farming on the benthic environment are difficult to detect due to the already high organic loading to the sediment. It was further demonstrated that mussel farming might have a relatively higher effect on environmental quality indicators like water transparency compared to load reduction.
Based on physiological studies and assessment of environmental conditions a number of coastal areas in Danish waters were appointed as suited for mitigation culture of mussels. Costs of nutrient removal through mussel farming were calculated and cost effectiveness of mussel farming was shown to be compatible to most of the remaining available land based abatement measures.
Concentration of hazardous substances in the mussels was shown not to be in conflict with use of the produced mussels for feed or human consumption.
The project was coordinated by Danish Shellfish Centre and funded by the Danish Council for Strategic Research.
Research area: Shellfish and Seaweed
Research area: Coastal Ecology
Specific objectives of the project were
1. to adapt known mussel farming techniques to production of maximal biomass at lowest possible costs.
2. to assess environmental impact of blue mussel extraction culture with special focus on benthic effects.
3. to integrate the results in an ecosystem based management model in order to make an overall assessment of environmental impact.
4. to assess effects of low salinity and cyanobacteria occurrence on growth of blue mussels through bioenergetic studies.
5. to develop management tools for and economic analysis of extraction cultures as a mitigation measure.
6. to assess bioaccumulation of contaminants in blue mussels as a prerequisite for future use of mussels as feed in husbandry.
MuMiHus demonstrated that mussel farming may be an efficient means of mitigation in terms area efficiency and it was shown that more biomass could have been produced per area unit.
Environmental impact studies and modelling showed that in highly eutrophic areas like Skive Fjord, negative environmental impact of mussel farming on the benthic environment are difficult to detect due to the already high organic loading to the sediment. It was further demonstrated that mussel farming might have a relatively higher effect on environmental quality indicators like water transparency compared to load reduction.
Based on physiological studies and assessment of environmental conditions a number of coastal areas in Danish waters were appointed as suited for mitigation culture of mussels. Costs of nutrient removal through mussel farming were calculated and cost effectiveness of mussel farming was shown to be compatible to most of the remaining available land based abatement measures.
Concentration of hazardous substances in the mussels was shown not to be in conflict with use of the produced mussels for feed or human consumption.
The project was coordinated by Danish Shellfish Centre and funded by the Danish Council for Strategic Research.
Research area: Shellfish and Seaweed
Research area: Coastal Ecology
| Status | Finished |
|---|---|
| Effective start/end date | 01/01/2010 → 30/09/2013 |
Collaborative partners
- Technical University of Denmark (lead)
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography (Project partner)
- Aarhus University (Project partner)
- University of Southern Denmark (Project partner)
- Bolding Burchard Hydrodynamics (Project partner)
- Danish Shellfish Centre (Project partner)
- Dalhousie University (Project partner)
- NIWA (Project partner)
Fingerprint
Explore the research topics touched on by this project. These labels are generated based on the underlying awards/grants. Together they form a unique fingerprint.