Many of the young mussels (mussel seed) that grow into Zeeland mussels in the Eastern Scheldt come from the Wadden Sea. In order to better protect the nature in the Wadden Sea, there is a covenant stating that the bottom seed mussel fishery will be reduced to 100 per cent closure in 2029. Alternatives to bottom seed fishery, such as hanging ropes in the water column on which mussel larvae can attach themselves (mzi's), have proven successful. The covenant also includes a pilot project to study the feasibility of cultivating mussels in so-called hanging culture in the Dutch coastal zone (Voordelta). This project is about that. The project is a first necessary step towards further upscaling of mussel cultivation to locations on the open sea.
