Effects of Environmental Characteristics of Aquaculture Sites on the Quality of Cultivated Newfoundland Blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis)

This study examined (1) the effects of seasonal and annual environmental characteristics (temperature, chlorophyll content, salinity, microbial water quality, and algal lipid composition) in four aquaculture locations on the quality (meat content, shell size, and microbial and lipid compositions) of cultivated blue mussels and (2) the optimum harvest time for premium-quality mussels. Seasonal and annual temperature fluctuation of the seawater in the aquaculture sites significantly (P < 0.05) affected their salinity, microbial content, and algal fatty acid compositions, which in turn affected the quality attributes of cultivated mussels. The optimum growth period in terms of meat content (4−5 g) and shell size (50−60 mm) can be achieved within 1 year of cultivation. Because the cultivated mussels examined in this study never reached the maximum microbial load limits (10⁵ or log 5 colony-forming units/g of meat), they can be harvested throughout the year. Meanwhile, no significant (P > 0.05) annual changes were observed in total omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids content of cultivated mussels. Nonetheless, the optimum harvest time may be April−June for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) rich mussels and September−October for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) rich mussels in terms of fatty acid proportions; however, June may be the best month for the highest concentrations of both EPA and DHA.

Keywords: Chemical and physical hydrography; blue mussels (Mytilus edulis); aquaculture sites; fatty acid composition; quality; meat content; shell size; optimum harvest; DHA; EPA