Sustainable off-bottom mussel farming

Certain Dutch coastal waters, such as the Wadden Sea and the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt Delta, are ecologically significant and are protected under EU nature laws. Traditional mussel seed fishing from the seabed can conflict with these protections, while farmers remain dependent on unpredictable natural seed fall. This creates environmental pressure and business insecurity for the sector. Mussel seed capture installations reduce pressure on wild beds and support the sector’s transition towards more sustainable seed harvesting. 

Subsidiaries of Roem van Yerseke B.V. invested in off-bottom seed capture installations, using vertical long-lines and net collectors supplied by Itsaskorda (Spain) and Smart Farm AS (Norway). these systems allow mussel larvae to settle on ropes and nets, growing into 1–2 cm seed that is later cultivated to market size. Suitable for both open waters and sheltered sites, the method reduces seabed disturbance and energy use while allowing husbandry and harvesting directly at the site, improving safety and providing farmers with a more stable and predictable harvest.