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Health and growth performance of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) from two hanging cultivation sites in the German Bight: a nearshore—offshore comparison

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Abstract

The health of cultivated blue mussels from an offshore and a nearshore sites was compared by assessing lysosomal membrane stability (LMS) and accumulations of lipofuscin and neutral lipids in the digestive glands. In addition, the condition index, parasite infestation rates, growth performance and energy status of the mussels were assessed during 10 months of sampling. Abiotic and biotic site characteristics were investigated by water analysis for each sampling cycle. Further, data of contaminant loads of the softbody and pollutant concentration of the water column, suspended particles and sediments from both sites were analysed. Results show that positive offshore effects due to dilution of contamination were not evident for all parameters analysed. Condition indices were high, and parasites were not present in offshore mussels. In contrast, the integrative health parameter LMS and growth performance were slightly, but not significantly, better in the nearshore cultivated mussels. These findings correspond with the higher contaminant concentrations in the softbodies of mussels and the water column from the offshore testing site. Both sites showed low LMS values and high accumulations of lipofuscin and neutral lipids, indicating that environmental conditions in the German Bight are generating stress for blue mussels even in the offshore areas. Exposure to fluvial transport points to a comparable probability for high contamination loads similar to nearshore areas. We therefore recommend adding a minimum salinity threshold to the definition of offshore aquaculture to exclude areas under fluvial influence.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Water and Shipping Authority (WSA) of Bremerhaven, Germany, the State Fishery Authority of Bremerhaven, Germany, and the Fishermen of Lower Saxony, Germany, who generously allowed use of the offshore test field in the Weser estuary near the lighthouse Roter Sand for the mussel cultivation experiments in the years 2006 and 2007. The authors are especially thankful to the WSA, who organised modification, shipping and anchoring of the buoyancy in the testing area. Further, we would like to thank the Niedersachsen Port Authorities (NPorts) of Wilhelmshaven, Germany, who generously allowed us to use the cargo bridge at Jade Bay for cultivating nearshore mussels on collector ropes. Special thanks go also to Captain Charly Lürs and his crew of the AWI research vessel FK Uthörn who guided and supported us during every ship excursion. The sampling at the offshore site Roter Sand would not have been possible without the help of the AWI research diving group who spent much time and energy to obtain the mussels for all the analyses. Further, the authors would like to thank the colleagues from the BSH and the DWD in Hamburg and from the NLWKN in Brake-Oldenburg for providing additional data of the sampling sites. This work was realised within the project FV 168 MytiFit financed by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany, and the Ministry of Construction, Environment, Traffic and Europe of the Federal State of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany

    M. Brenner, C. Buchholz, B. H. Buck & A. Koehler

  2. Institute for Marine Resources (IMARE), Bussestraße 27-29, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany

    M. Brenner & B. H. Buck

  3. Institute for Fish and Fishery Products (LAVES), Schleusenstr. 1, 27472, Cuxhaven, Germany

    O. Heemken

  4. Bremerhaven University of Applied Science, An der Karlstadt 8, 27568, Bremerhaven, Germany

    B. H. Buck

  5. Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, 28759, Bremen, Germany

    A. Koehler

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Correspondence to M. Brenner.

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Brenner, M., Buchholz, C., Heemken, O. et al. Health and growth performance of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) from two hanging cultivation sites in the German Bight: a nearshore—offshore comparison. Aquacult Int 20, 751–778 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-012-9501-0

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