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One‐year‐old rope grown blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) were grown in experimental lantern nets at two depths (2 and 6 m below the surface) in two different positions (inflow and outflow) off a raft in Loch Etive on the west coast of Scotland. Shell and tissue growth, and mortality were recorded. Water temperature, salinity and food availability were also monitored over the experimental period. There were no significant differences in the length, live weight, wet meat weight, dry meat weight and ash‐free dry meat weight between depths (P > 0.05). However, position had a significant effect on these parameters as mussels located at the inflow of the raft differed significantly from those at the outflow of the raft (P < 0.05). Particulate organic matter (POM) and chlorophyll a (Ch a) were significantly higher at the inflow than the outflow of the raft (P < 0.05), but depth had no effect on POM and Ch a (P > 0.05). The results show that food concentration was higher in the inflow of the raft than the outflow. In the light of these results, recommendations for better management of Scottish raft mussel cultivation are discussed.

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This study examined an offshore submerged mussel longline system, in the Black Sea, from May 2009 to May 2010. The system was allowed 1 year for spat collection. After a 1-year spat collection period, some spat collectors were left untouched (NS), and some spat collectors were grazed and socked (S) for a grow-out study in May 2009. The effects of stocking density on the growth and survival of the S and NS mussels were examined. The biochemical composition of the mussels was also determined. Environmental factors including temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a, total suspended matter, inorganic matter and organic matter were monitored monthly during the experimental period. In May 2010, the mean length and live weight of the S and NS mussels were 60.46 AE 0.60 mm and 53.34 AE 0.37 mm, respectively, and 20.50 AE 0.50 g and 13.11 AE 0.26 g respectively. Mean moisture and ash were 82.35 AE 0.47% and 6.67 AE 0.44% respectively. Mean carbohydrate, protein and lipid were 27.74 AE 2.40%, 57.68 AE 2.15% and 7.91 AE 0.68% respectively. These results indicate that a submerged offshore mussel culture system in the Black Sea can be commercially convenient. In addition, stock management via thinning out of the spat can considerably increase the marketable size of mussels, reduce harvest time and produce better growth.