Site Selection Criteria for Off-Shore Mussel Cultivation Use: A Modelling Approach

Brigolin, D. (2006). Site Selection Criteria for Off-Shore Mussel Cultivation Use: A Modelling Approach. IIASA Interim Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: IR-06-042

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Abstract

In the last decade, the Mediterranean mussel production in Italy has been steadily increasing, reaching in 2002 the 7% of the worldwide production. This trend is mainly due to the increase in landings from aquaculture, which in 2002 accounted for about 70% of the country annual production. Despite this growth, the development of off-shore mussel culture activities still encounters a number of constraints concerned with sustainability and environmental impacts. This work presents the developement of a mathematical model which aims at describing the impact of farmed mussels on phytoplankton concentration. The model was applied to study the sustainability of mussel culture activities along the western Adriatic coast. Simulation results indicate that, during a critical period of the rearing cycle, phytoplankton concentration could be impacted by the grazing of farmed mussels. Model results were discussed on the basis of considerations on energy requirements to sustain mussel growth. The approach presented can give useful indications related to farms sizes and locations.

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