Spring Bay Closed Cycle Mussels: a Friend of the Sea

Friend of the Sea has announced the certification of Australian Blue Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) farmed by Spring Bay Seafoods in Tasmania. Spring Bay has distinguished itself by its outstanding environmental performance to all the required standards. In particular, the independent international auditing company, SGS, “believes Spring Bay Mussels are particularly deserving of recognition for their low density farming and hatchery production of juvenile mussel spat.”

“You rarely find a company so dedicated to environmental protection and sustainability. The extent to which they monitor their water quality parameters, the care taken to select their mussel growing sites, their environmental impact assessment and reporting, their growing methods and hatchery production of juvenile mussels, and the quality assurance they provide to Spring Bay customers – these all make the company’s environmental footprint close to zero” said Dr Paolo Bray – Director of Friend of the Sea. “Spring Bay Seafood’s’ mussel production is surely an example to be followed by the whole aquaculture industry”.

Spring Bay Seafood’s is a shellfish company operating in greater Spring Bay near the picturesque national park of Maria Island, on the East Coast of Tasmania, in Australia. Spring Bay’s blue mussels are rope-cultured deepwater mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) grown on unique suspended long-lines between 6-10 meters below the surface. The company claims to have one of the most advanced hatchery production systems for mussels anywhere in the world.

Tasmanian marine farmers have been growing mussels commercially for over 20 years but only recently has the production expanded to a level where Spring Bay blue mussels are now available year round and in significant quantity. Marine farming in Tasmania is managed and regulated by the Tasmanian Government and their Department of Primary Industries.

“Spring Bay Seafood’s is delighted to be formally recognized as a Friend of the Sea and is only the second mussel company in the world to achieve this certification” comments Mr Phillip Lamb, Managing Director of Spring Bay Seafoods.

“We understand that Friend of the Sea is the most recognized aquaculture sustainability standard in the world and we believe we are also only the second aquaculture company in Australia to achieve this certification. This is a very clear message for our customers, our suppliers and our neighbors in regard to the commitment we have to the environment and sustainability” says Mr Lamb. “It is also a reflection of the beautiful and pristine marine environment in which we live, work and enjoy” he says.

The company will carry the Friend of the Sea international eco-label on its mussel products sold in the Australian market and in nearby export markets.