5 minute read
Nicki Holmyard
BY NICKI HOLMYARD
Building up mussels
New markets could be the key to growth for Scotland’s shellfi sh farmers
ACOMPREHENSIVE, 60-page report inves� ga� ng how Scotland’s shellfi sh producers can access new markets has just been released by Crown Estate Scotland.
It is hoped that alterna� ve markets for farmed Sco� sh shellfi sh and associated requirements prepared by food industry consultancy SAOS will help the sector to play a bigger role in suppor� ng the economic development of Highland and island communi� es and building Scotland’s blue economy.
It comes on the back of produc� on fi gures showing that the Sco� sh mussel farming sector has more or less fl atlined, with only Shetland seeing even moderate growth in mussels. In 2019 6,700 tonnes of mussels were grown in Scotland with a £6.8m value at farmgate, with 71% of produc� on coming from Shetland.
Scotland’s ambi� ous “Vision 2030” growth strategy for aquaculture aims to double the size of the overall sector to £3.6bn by 2030. The mussel industry is expected to play its part, with a trebling of capacity by 2030 to around 21,000 tonnes per year.
According to the report, sector-wide investment, par� cularly in data capture and analysis, upgrading of current mussel boats and improving skills resources across the supply chain will be required if these targets are to be achieved.
Upscaling of produc� on and added-value processing capability will also be required, although it is noted that capacity already exists. For example, maximising use of all exis� ng mussel leases would allow for a signifi cant increase in produc� on.
The report highlights three areas for poten� al growth and the diversifi ca� on of markets, including: • increasing sales to the UK retail and foodservice industry; • diversifying into nutraceu� cal products, as has been successfully achieved in the New Zealand mussel industry; and • ge� ng involved in carbon off se� ng schemes and green investment.
“The possibili� es outlined in this report include food produc� on, as well as a host of poten� al markets for Sco� sh shellfi sh growers to tap in to. We know that diversifi ca� on can be a key part of futureproofi ng a sector and this can help deliver real economic benefi ts to rural communi� es around Scotland,” Alex Adrian, Head of Aquaculture for Crown Estate Scotland told Fish Farmer magazine.
He explained that the latest work builds on a previous report commissioned by Crown Estate Scotland, which looked at the cri� cal mass needed for a viable mussel farming business. It also comple-
Above: Alex Adrian Opposite: Mussels ments a couple of other studies currently being carried out, which are looking at the feasibility and economics of si� ng large shellfi sh and seaweed farming opera� ons in Scotland, whether they could be pre-approved and how they might interact with fi sheries’ interests.
“Large scale means a mussel farm producing at least 700 tonnes of mussels per year and a seaweed farm covering at least one square kilometre. We have been looking at areas such as the Firth of Clyde and the east coast, but if we encourage and facilitate new development, any increased produc� on cannot put pressure on exis� ng markets, so we needed to inves� gate what other opportuni� es there are for the sector,” Adrian says.
Expanding the market
Most Sco� sh mussel produc� on is des� ned for the UK market and the report suggests that the biggest opportunity to grow the category in the
UK is to encourage exis� ng consumers to purchase and eat more, and to a� ract new consumers in the grocery and out-ofhome sectors. Selling online is a par� cular growth sector that has doubled in the past 15 months.
Messaging around sustainability and the climate-friendly values of mussels should be strengthened to match developing trends.
Displacing imports of mussels from, for example, New Zealand, exploring the frozen mussel category for growth at home and abroad, and tackling the export market are all recommended, making par� cular use of the posi� ve image associated with Sco� sh provenance.
Nutra/pharmaceu� cal products
Nutra/pharmaceu� cal products (NPD) account for a growing and lucra� ve market. Mussel oil for example, now accounts for 12%
of the mussel export market for New Zealand and contributed NZ$ 51m in 2020 (£25.9m).
To understand the market for this sector, research into the comparative nutrition profiles of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and the green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is recommended. The information would be used as a basis for NPD and communications for human and animal nutrition products. The establishment of a working group would be needed to explore interest in extraction and biorefining facilities, which would be of interest to other industries such as salmon.
It is noted that production of mussel oil or other high-value extracts should focus on quality rather than quantity, as production levels in Scotland mean that it is unlikely to be able to compete in commodity markets.
Payment for ecosystem services
Payment for the ecosystem services (PES) provided by mussel farms was considered in the report, which finds that it would be challenging to offer a blanket payment for shellfish farming per se, despite its benefits.
The PES framework could be used to reward improvements in farming systems that enhance environmental quality, for gathering and sharing data that contributes to wider environmental management initiatives, or where shellfish farms were cited in an area specifically to improve water quality or coastal protection.
The report recommended that the Scottish Government consider these issues in the development of its Blue Economy Action Plan, and Marine Scotland in the proposed Aquaculture Shellfish Growth Plan. Support in the form of further research could be provided by the Scottish Aquaculture Innovative Centre (SAIC).
Low carbon
Mussels have by far the lowest carbon footprint of any animal protein. This could draw in more environmentally conscious retailers and consumers, and attract new finance into the sector. There is also potential to increase production specifically for carbon capture and environmental improvement, rather than for human consumption. SAIC was encouraged to provide funding to support development of evidence required to support this approach.
In conclusion, the report identifies that a combination of traditional markets, nutra/pharmaceuticals and carbon capture all offer opportunities for the development and growth of the Scottish bivalve sector, although the current lack of bioprocessing capacity in Scotland presents significant challenges.
Development of a strategy that harnesses all three aspects is recommended to reduce risk and create a more market-responsive industry, with a diverse portfolio of income streams that is better able to withstand economic shocks. FF
