The effect of transportation and re-watering strategies on the survival, physiology and batch weight of the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis

Abstract

This study compared conventional and experimental strategies, along a mussel supply chain, before (pre), during and after (post) transportation at pilot commercial scale. The main focus was on depuration and re-watering (immersion of mussels pre-transport and re-immersion at post-transport) and the use of ice versus ambient temperature (0°C and 8°C), and humidity (use of a lid or cover) during transport. Improvements to the supply chain were measured via survival, batch weight dynamics and ammonium serum concentration (as a simple physiological stress assay). We found that ice is not the key management component for keeping mussels alive. Survival and stress were reduced via depuration and rewatering. We also present and discuss transport measures strategies benefitting both producers and shellfish merchants, representing a total cost saving of 14%.

Mortality of marine mussels Mytilus edulis and M. galloprovincialis: systematic literature review of risk factors and recommendations for future research

“…Re‐immersion beyond 11 days increased the mortality risk (Theodorou et al, 2017). In M. edulis , re‐immersion before transport did not have a significant effect on the mussel mortality risk, whether they were stored with ice or at a chilled ambient temperature of 5°C during transport, at any stage of the supply chain (pretransportation or post‐transportation) (Barrento & Powell, 2016). Mussels being re‐immersed before transport and stored on ice showed reduced mortalities compared to mussels being not re‐immersed before transport and stored at ambient temperature (Barrento & Powell, 2016).…”

“…Interactions between the geographical origin of the spat and mussel age were reported on the M. edulis mortality risk (Mallet et al, 1990). Along the supply chain, interactions between non‐depuration treatment before transport and ambient temperature treatment during transport were reported concerning the mortality risk of M. edulis mussels at the post‐rewatering stage (Barrento & Powell, 2016).…”

The effect of pre‐process and transport strategies on survival, microbiologic, and physiologic of Patinopecten yessoensis

“…However, but in this experiment, PY has low tolerance of exposed air stress, so their survival time is shorter than that of clam (Anacleto, Maulvault, Barrento, et al, 2013;Anacleto, Maulvault, Chaguri, et al, 2013), Mytilus edulis (Barrento, & Powell, 2016), and other bivalves (Phuvasate et al, 2012).…”

“…Shellfish depuration is a commercial compulsory process required in many countries for the fresh shellfish commercialization (Polo, Feal, Varela, Monteagudo, & Romalde, 2014). Several studies have been carried out to evaluate the effect of depuration in physiologic and microbiologic aspects of numerous shellfish species, such as Crassostrea gigas (Phuvasate, Chen, & Su, 2012;Phuvasate & Su, 2013), Crassostrea virginica (Larsen, Rikard, Walton, & Arias, 2015), Ruditapes philippinarum (Qiao, Cai, & Xu, et al, 2005), Meretrix Meretrix Linnaeus (Qiao, Cai, & Xu, 2008), Patinopecten yessoensis (Xian, Xin, Li, & Zhu, 2010), Scapharca subcrenata (Yang et al, 2012), Mytilus edulis (Barrento & Powell, 2016), which have provide the foundation for shellfish depuration process optimization of different temperature and water condition.…”

“…Yet, some research findings have proved that the death rate will not be increased by a proper environment and process for depuration. The survival rate of blue mussel ( M. edulis ) after depuration did not decrease before the transportation since the depuration of live mussel reduced the environmental stress (Barrento & Powell, ). The microorganisms and biochemical indexes of Venerupis pullastra (native clam) and Ruditapes philippinarum (exotic clam) during 2 days of depuration and subsequent transportation in semi‐dry conditions have been carried out, and the depuration has not affected the death rate, but reduced the total number of bacteria.…”