Research and Technology at the Service of Mussel Farming

The scarcity of mussel spat and the effects of climate change on the marine environment continue to threaten mussel farming, especially in Galicia, Spain. The region produces approximately 95% of Spain’s total annual production of over 200,000 tons, making it the largest mussel producer in Europe.

For this reason, several technological and research projects, supported by Galician institutions, have emerged in recent months to make mussel farming more sustainable, efficient, and resilient. What are some of the most notable ones?

Digital Monitoring of Mussel Spat

One example is APROMEX, which aims to optimize mussel farming management from spat collection on rocks to hatchery production. Last May, an interactive web viewer developed by CETMAR was introduced, providing real-time data on mussel spat density in the Galician estuaries, with updates published weekly.

This tool, driven by the Xunta de Galicia and co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund, aims to improve access to and interpretation of data on the mussel lifecycle, enabling the planning of mussel seed collection campaigns with updated and advance information.

Monosex Mussels: genetics for greater commercial value

Spat scarcity has also prompted innovative scientific solutions. One such example is MytUniSex, a project by the University of Vigo that successfully bred the first lines of monosex mussels (all females) in the laboratory.

Through traditional selective breeding –without transgenesis or genetic editing– the team obtained mussels with intense orange flesh, a characteristic typical of females that is highly valued by consumers and the canning industry.

The challenge now is to scale the production of these specimens. Being able to produce seed in hatcheries on demand would provide the sector with a stable supply, independent of natural fluctuations, while also increasing the quality and uniformity of the product.

Biorock technology: electricity to enhance farming

Innovation is even experimenting with electrical currents to support mussel growth. Since last May, the Xunta de Galicia’s Ministry of the Sea and the University of A Coruña have been promoting the Biorock project, which applies a weak direct current of low voltage in the water to stimulate mussel seed attachment to ropes. Its purpose is to enhance the growth, reproduction, and survival of mussels.

This technology has already been successfully used in the restoration of natural reefs and could counteract some effects of climate change in aquaculture by fostering more resilient mussels under adverse conditions.

In 2025, experiments will be conducted in controlled conditions (tanks and pools) to obtain solid data on the effectiveness of Biorock in mussels, with a view to evaluating its potential application in commercial rafts in the future.

Conclusions: Sustainability and Innovation as Pillars

Looking towards the future, the mussel farming sector is betting on sustainability and innovation as the foundations for the sector. Universities, technological centers, companies, and administrations are collaborating to make mussel farming more efficient and environmentally friendly, strengthening the resilience of this key sector in Galicia in the face of increasingly adverse climate and market conditions.