Mussels produced by the Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group are set to become the first rope-grown mussels worldwide to achieve Marine Stewardship Council sustainability certification.
This marks the first time a farmed seafood product has participated in the MSC pre-assessment process. The exception was made because of the unique cultivation techniques used, where the larvae or spat naturally settle on ropes suspended from buoys. They then mature naturally by feeding on marine plankton.
Scottish Shellfish is also pursuing Friend of the Sea certification for its mussels; the organization certified both wild and farmed seafood products. Rope-grown mussels from Spain’s Galicia and Australia’s Tasmania are currently certifications by FOS.
“We are delighted that both the MSC and FOS have accepted out application to begin the certification process for Scottish rope-grown mussels, which will confirm their status of being a sustainable and well managed natural resource,” said Stephen Cameron, Scottish Shellfish managing director. “Our diverse customer base has different requirements when it comes to certification, and this is why we decided to apply for both standards.”
Scottish Shellfish operates a processing facility in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, and supplies fresh and value-added mussels to both retail and foodservice. Mussel farms in the group represent about 70 percent of Scotland’s total mussel production, the bulk of which is sold in the United Kingdom.
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