The culture of Mytilus galloprovincialis in South Africa and the carrying capacity of mussel farming in Saldanha Bay

摘要

Mussel farming in South Africa was initiated in Port Elizabeth on the east coast in 1984. After a year of operation the company placed several rafts and longlines in Saldanha Bay on the west coast of the country, ca. 100 kilometres north of Cape Town (see the insert of Figure 1). The mussels grew much faster in the colder and richer Benguela system waters and the entire industry is now located there. The first 30 rafts, based on the Spanish design, were placed in the northern reaches of Site 2 in Big Bay (Figure 1). However, two years later, during a typically severe winter storm more than half of the rafts were destroyed. By this time another fishing company had set up an operation in Small Bay, in the protected area to the east of the causeway (Site 1, Figure 1). Since then, production has increased steadily and the companies have developed sophisticated products.