Responsibility measures

Alternative materials for mussel socks have been used in several places

Farmer/user responsibility Farmer/user responsibility

Photo: Jean-Sebastien Lauzon-Guay Photo: Jean-Sebastien Lauzon-Guay

Relevant type of aquaculture:

Shellfish

Relevant sea basin:

North

Relevant stage:

Prevention and reduction

Related Barriers:

  • Research and innovation activities do not support sufficiently the aquaculture developments, e.g. cooperation with universities doing material research including their impact on the environment.

  • The sector needs more information exchange and dialogue (e.g. workshops, trainings, forums, common toolboxes, free best practice guidelines, etc.).

  • There is a lack of alternative materials for the aquaculture sector that have the same properties as what is currently used but don’t contain any plastics, e.g. for buoys.

  • There is not enough knowledge on the existence of sustainable alternatives for aquaculture material.

  • Designers and manufacturers of aquaculture equipment are not sufficiently aware and motivated to seek alternative materials that would make their products more resistant and less polluting.

  • A leadership within the entire sector to better implement innovative solutions of waste management (i.e. common sourcing/ funding/monitoring/best practice replication, etc.) is missing.

Related Good Practice:

P&R GP4.2

Alternative materials for mussel larvae collector lines made of natural and degradable fibres

Machinefabriek Bakker from Yerseke, the Netherlands, has been awarded the sustainability award of the shellfish conference foundation for the development of a biodegradable sock for mussel suspension cultures and mussel larvae collector installations. This alternative material serves as a replacement for cotton socks that are harmful to the environment if lost or damaged during aquaculture practices.