1384.6 - Statistics - Tasmania, 2007

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 13/09/2002

Summary
Downloads
Explanatory Notes
Related Information
Past Releases

Page tools: Print

Print Page Print all pages in this product

Print All

Summary of Contents
Historic Feature Articles
About this Release
Contents

Contents >> Fishing >> Aquaculture >> Main species farmed >> Blue mussels

The Tasmanian blue mussel (Mytilus edulis planulatus) industry began in the early 1980s with oyster farmers diversifying into hanging culture of wild-caught spat. Some farmers also collected mussels as part of the process of cleaning salmon cages on which spat had settled. The industry is now making a transition towards using hatchery-cultured spat.

Mussel farms are in the waters of D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Huon River, Port Esperance, Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay.

Most of the production is sold live/unopened into mainland Australian markets, where it attracts a premium price because of its large size, high meat content and flavour.