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ABC shines a spotlight on mussel power in Cockburn Sound
The new Byssal mussel farm initiative that Recfishwest has helped bring to life in Cockburn Sound recently featured on ABC News.
The TV news feature gave viewers a great behind-the-scenes look at the initiative, which has already delivered significant benefits for one of WA’s most important fishing locations.
Check out Cockburn Sound’s mussel power in the video below!
Recfishwest is proud to support the operation as one of Byssal’s four founding partners, with the mussels providing a rich food source that supports healthier fish, squid, and crab populations within the Sound, including species like snapper and skippy.
It’s not just fish that benefit from the aquaculture farms, mussel ropes – crabs are regular visitors, feasting on the mussels, tiny invertebrates and algae that teem along them as well.
Mussels also naturally filter large volumes of water, helping improve water quality in the Sound.
For more on the initiative, you can read the accompanying ABC online news article here
Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said it’s a great example of practical, science-based solutions that strengthen fish habitat and help secure better fishing in Cockburn Sound.
“This is only the beginning, though. With ambitions for the farm to grow around 1,000 tonnes of mussels each year, Byssal has the potential to become one of Australia’s leading marine habitat enhancement projects using mussels.”
The innovative Byssal mussel farm, also called restorative aquaculture, is demonstrating the power of native mussels and their ability to take off right here in Cockburn Sound.
Recfishwest hopes to unlock the project’s full environmental and community benefits with the continued support from governments and other partners, allowing the initiative to expand and deliver lasting benefits for future generations.
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