Impact of open sea habitat on byssus attachment of suspension-cultured blue mussels (Mytilus edulis)

Offshore and open sea suspension-culture of mussels is largely in development but, in this particular environment, sleeved mussels are submitted to high-energy oceanographic conditions which could increase fall-offs. In this study, we compared the performance of open sea mussel culture to that of culture in a lagoon environment. Byssus attachment strength, condition index, mechanical properties of individual byssal threads, metal content of the filaments for mussels from both the open sea and the semi-closed lagoon sites were monitored as well as the environmental characteristics of these sites. The spawning event occurred approximately one month earlier for mussels in the open sea than in the lagoon, probably due to a difference in temperature and food availability. The attachment strength of the mussels was weaker in the open sea, even if individual threads were bigger and stronger than in the lagoon. This lower attachment strength seems related to a lower production of byssal threads.