New case study: advancing Scotland’s mussel farming through genetics
The establishment of a reliable source of quality mussels
Mussels begin life as microscopic larvae before settling on surfaces as ‘spat’ or seed. Farmers currently depend on wild mussel spawning for spat collection, but natural supply is unpredictable, limiting industry growth. To address this, a pilot hatchery was established in Shetland to provide a reliable source of mussel seed and enable planned expansion.
Valued at £150K, the project partners were Xelect and the NAFC at the University of the Highlands and Islands
Complementing the hatchery, the project explored how genetics could support future selective breeding programmes. Such programmes, common in livestock, aim to maintain genetic diversity while improving traits like growth, meat yield, and disease resistance. Breeding mussels presents unique challenges, such as free-spawning in water and microscopic larvae, but also opportunities, as shellfish breeding is relatively new and offers significant potential for improvement.
The project had two goals:
- Develop genetic tools (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, or SNP, panels) for stock management and broodstock selection.
- Test hatchery protocols and confirm parentage in controlled crosses.
Researchers sampled mussels from 18 sites in Shetland, analysed species and hybridisation, and created a panel of 96 genetic markers (SNPs). Despite challenges, the project established protocols and demonstrated proof of concept for genetic selection in mussels.
These advances could pave the way for breeding programmes, offering long-term benefits for farmers and the wider aquaculture sector. While further work is required - particularly refining genetic tools and scaling hatchery production - the research provides a foundation for sustainable growth. By combining hatchery technology with genetics, Scotland’s mussel industry could become become more resilient, competitive, and innovative.
The full title of this project is ‘Developing genetic tools for mussel hatchery broodstock’.
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