Mussels

Mussels - An Amazing Journey from Ocean to Plate

Mussels, part of the mollusk family, are incredibly diverse creatures that live in various environments, spanning from the brackish estuaries and salt marshes of the Atlantic coasts of North America, to the Mediterranean Sea, and even up to the arctic waters of Northern Europe and the Pacific Northwest. The ocean is full of mussels and they are a great source of nutrition for humans. But before these nutrients make their way to the dinner plate, the mussels must survive an amazing journey, from the ocean to the plate.

Beginning of the Journey: Mussel Habitats

The journey of a mussel begins in an aquatic habitat, where the water is suitable for its survival. Mussels live in various types of habitats, depending on their species, including saltwater and freshwater ocean, estuarine and river beds, as well as enclosed shores and bays. The presence of draining rivers in the vicinity are not just important for the immediate geographic area, but also serve as a major source of the carrying capacity of mussels, who rely heavily on the fertile, nutrient-rich sediments of these rivers to survive.

Mussels typically live and grow in groups, either attached to one another by their know-shaped “byssal threads” or freely roaming. Mussels will take advantage of any surface they can anchor themselves to, such as rocks, logs, and even ships hulls. Mussels often form large, continuous beds populated with hundreds of thousands of individuals and occupy extensive areas, with some mussel beds being over 1300 ft. long.

Mussel Reproduction

To reproduce, mussels require both male and female individuals, and they use a unique, external sperm-fertilization process to reproduce. During the reproductive season, some mussel species, such as blue mussels, will gather in large groups in breeding sites and broadcast spawn, wherein the female releases eggs and the males release sperm into the water around them. The eggs and sperm come together and fertilize, mixing with the plankton floating near the surface. When fertilization takes place, the tiny larval mussels are released and begin their growth process as they drift on the ocean current. This reproductive process begins in the late spring and continues through the early summer months.

The Mussel Seed Bank

The larval mussels which hatch from the reproductive process are known as veligers, and are found only in the upper layers of the ocean, where sunlight is available. After the veligers have been released, they find shelter from the open ocean in the form of rocks, reefs, and other surfaces, which act as a seed bank where the veligers can develop. These veligers spend up to a couple months drifting through the currents before settling down and attaching themselves to the surfaces of the rocks and shoreline.

Feeding

Once the veligers have settled onto a suitable surface, they then begin to feed. Mussels are filter feeders, meaning they draw water into their siphons, sift out the edible particles, and discard the remainder. This process allows them to consume a variety of resources, including phytoplankton, suspended particles, and detritus. Mussels will take up food from the surrounding environment, enabling them to survive by absorbing nutrients and energy.

Growth

As the mussels feed and grow, they increase in size and weight. A juvenile mussel that grows to its mature size can increase in weight by up to twenty-five times. In addition to being physically larger, mussels will also increase in number. A clump of mussels can start out with just a few individuals, but over time can grow in size, forming large, dense colonies.

Safety and Protection

While growth is important for the survival of mussels, so is their ability to protect themselves. Mussels employ a variety of complex defensive strategies to deter predators, including their ability to close their valves tightly, their ability to release a strong and sticky byssal thread when threatened, and the ability to attach themselves firmly to the rock they inhabit. These tactics help protect the mussel from its predators, including crabs, fish, and birds, ensuring its survival in the harsh ocean ecosystem.

Harvesting

Eventually, the mussel will find its way into a commercial mussel farm where it can be harvested for human consumption. Mussel farming has been a growing trend in recent years, with the total worldwide population of cultivated mussels estimated to be over 11 million metric tons. These farms are typically tidal hardbottom systems, and feature extensive cages made of wire, rope, and other materials, with which the mussels can attach themselves. Once the mussels reach their desired size and weight, they are harvested and prepared for sale in stores and markets.

Journey to the Plate

The last part of the mussel's journey is as it travels from the store or market to the dinner plate. Thankfully, mussels are a versatile seafood, with a sweet and earthy flavor, that can be cooked in a multitude of ways. They are a popular item found on menus in many countries and the preparation can range from steaming or boiling the mussels in a flavorful stock, to baking or grilling them in the oven.

No matter how they are cooked, mussels are a delicious delicacy that people enjoy all around the world, thanks to the amazing journey that these creatures take to get from the ocean to the plate. Mussels demonstrate the incredible strength and versatility of nature, and the journey from ocean to plate is a testament to their incredible endurance.