Mussel Problem

[corydoras]

Only thing is, if they didn't lay the beds then there wouldn't be the ducks in those numbers. If the fishery is not profitable they will stop and the ducks will eat what?

If the beds are any good they will still grow mussels that the ducks can eat. The commercials could stick in some bouchot to grow their mussels. That way everyone wins. As an aside, and this is just my opinion but I think that mussels grown on bouchot taste much better than those taken from a bed, they are up out of the mud and they don't have nearly as many gritty bits in them.

[captain cojones]

mussels are grown on thick ropes, hung from rafts here.cos they´re off the mud they are very clean, and the ducks etc cant get to them.

there are loads of ropes on each raft, and millions are produced so are really cheap to buy.

cheers dave

[corydoras]

A good point, but I expect the mussel beds are good easy pickings.

Can't be easier than bouchot Ken. When ready to harvest they just go down to the beach with the tractor and trailer. They take the coil of rope off the bouchot with all the mussels attached and the process the whole lot ashore. The ropes are repaired, reseeded and put back up again. The ropes will seed themselves, it is just quicker to harvest (and you can control the species to a certain extent) if you pre-seed.

[Norm B]

--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Norm B @ Sep 20 2006, 06:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->

The ducks will eat what the ducks used to eat before the mussel beds were there.

 

 

 

But they have only multiplied to these numbers because of the extra food available. If the mussel beds go, they would naturally limit their numbers (starve and breed less) to the food they could get.

The mussels aren't EXTRA food, they are an alternative food. It's like you or I, if we find a better, more tasty food we eat it, if it's not there then we eat what is there. Due to the shortage of fish in the sea there is much more food available, be it mussels, shrimps or weed. So the ducks are attracted to that area because there is better food, they haven't bred in greater numbers because of it, they've come to take advantage of what's on offer, somewhere else will have less ducks as a consequence.

 

mussels are grown on thick ropes, hung from rafts here.cos they´re off the mud they are very clean, and the ducks etc cant get to them.

there are loads of ropes on each raft, and millions are produced so are really cheap to buy.

cheers dave

Spot on with that reply.

[corydoras]

mussels are grown on thick ropes, hung from rafts here.cos they´re off the mud they are very clean, and the ducks etc cant get to them.

there are loads of ropes on each raft, and millions are produced so are really cheap to buy.

cheers dave

I think they use this technique in the Mediterranean regions of France too.

[A Norfolk Boy]

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QUOTE(Norm B @ Sep 20 2006, 07:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The mussels aren't EXTRA food, they are an alternative food. It's like you or I, if we find a better, more tasty food we eat it, if it's not there then we eat what is there. Due to the shortage of fish in the sea there is much more food available, be it mussels, shrimps or weed. So the ducks are attracted to that area because there is better food, they haven't bred in greater numbers because of it, they've come to take advantage of what's on offer, somewhere else will have less ducks as a consequence.

Spot on with that reply.

 

Of course they are extra in that area, if they weren't seeded they wouldn't be there. It increases the foodsource. In times of plenty they have more offspring. Animals regulate their numbers by the food available. Such as urban foxes.

[A Norfolk Boy]

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QUOTE(Norm B @ Sep 20 2006, 07:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Due to the shortage of fish in the sea there is much more food available, be it mussels, shrimps or weed. .

Spot on with that reply.

 

 

Sorry, but most of the shrimps have gone as well.

[A Norfolk Boy]

Anyway, truth in what we are both saying.

 

As this is farming rather than fishing, it really isn't any different to protecting a crop in a field.

[mahoo]

Eider ducks are specialist mussel feeders anyhow and have only shown in large numbers where mussels are either grown commercially or grow naturally in this country quite recently. Take away the food source and they would most likely vacate the area for somewhere more productive.

 

I wonder how they taste covered in Hoi sin, cucumber and spring onions? mmm... crispy duck and perfect feather pillows and duvets!

[corydoras]

Eider ducks are specialist mussel feeders anyhow and have only shown in large numbers where mussels are either grown commercially or grow naturally in this country quite recently. Take away the food source and they would most likely vacate the area for somewhere more productive.

 

I wonder how they taste covered in Hoi sin, cucumber and spring onions? mmm... crispy duck and perfect feather pillows and duvets!

I've never eaten Eider, but I don't think they would taste very nice. I imagine it would be like eating a gannet.