Knowledge measures

Due to its particular structure, the New Zeeland system performs better than the longline technique because it is more resistant to storms and, therefore, it decreases the possibility to lose products and nets in the water. The "New Zealand"system, as is the case of normal longlines, uses a basic element consisting of the cable or beam, anchored to the bottom by heavy bodies and maintained at a depth of about 3 meters relative to the surface of the sea thanks to a series of floats. The mussels are bred on a continuous rope called "watershed", which is fixed to the beam through the use of silhouettes spaced about 8 meters apart and positioned along the row with a serpentine pattern. The sharp produces "festoons" of about 4 meters, arranged to loop in a perpendicular direction with respect to the horizontal axis of the sea and the shellfish are kept compact on the rope through the use of a special water-soluble cotton sock, which after a certain period of time, in contact with seawater, melts. The SMART FARM system is nowadays used more frequently in North Europe. This type of technology allows to cope better with the wave movements and brings a number of advantages in relation to the safety of facilities and personnel, the limitation of product losses, as well as the reduction of environmental impact, as no plastic socks are used, which could detach and settle on the sea bottom. However, the tests in Italy reveal that the system does not work really well in stormy conditions.