Introduction

Forms of cultivation

Why aquaculture

History

Which specie

Problems associated with aquaculture

Cultivating molluscs

Cultivating blue mussels

Cultivation methods

Problems associated with mussel cultivation

Threats

Poisonous mussels?

Foodstuffs (recipe)

Several specie of birds eat blue mussels, but it is mainly sea ducks that have the ability to fetch up mussels from natural banks. Eiders are the dominating species of sea duck along the Swedish west coast and have specialized on preying on blue mussels. During a large part of the year they find their food on natural mussel banks and can also prey on its competitors, crabs and starfish.
    During the winter, about 80% of the eiders migrate to Danish waters, but during certain years a larger proportion do not migrate and the mussel resources can became depleted already during the autumn. Eiders even pose a threat to mussel farms. When the natural resources diminish or became depleted, they can start to look for food on mussel farms and when one eider finds food within a certain area, many more are attracted.

Female eiders with their young.  

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