It maybe also a matter of growth: if their growth rate is faster and their
calcium metabolism remains stable, then they maybe compelled to sacrifice
thickness in favour of size, specially in sheltered environments.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Grebneff" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: farmed mussels


> >\It reads:
> >"...To distinguish from wild mussels, check the shell. Farmed have
> >thin, dark shells; wild have
> >thicker, silvery shells..."
> >
> >Although this fact is true, I am wondering WHY the shells of farmed
> >mussels are always
> >thinner??
> >I am a coastal fellow working on a mussel aquaculture project with
> >the University of Rhode
> >Island's Seagrant director.
> >If you have any information you can give me I would appreciate it. I
> >have been searching for
> >the answer for some time now, and getting very frustrated!
> >
> >Thanks a lot,
> >Jessica Scherer
>
> I'm not sure, but cultured mussels here in NZ are Perna canaliculus,
> and are large and thinshelled. They are all grown on rafts in very
> sheltered waters. I suspect that the water conditions are the
> determining factor here. Are the US cultured mussels grown in such
> shelter?
> --
> Andrew Grebneff
> 165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
> <[log in to unmask]>
> Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut