Mussel aquaculture provides nutritionally dense food without the need for freshwater, land, or feed, making IT an effective means of addressing both food insecurity and environmental issues

The Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded $600,000 under the Fisheries Development and Utilization Research and Development Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program (CFDA 11.427) to Holdfast Aquaculture LLC. The two-year project grant will support the development of the native California mussel (Mytilus californianus) as a new aquaculture species in Southern California. Specifically, the awardee will develop a scientifically managed breeding program for the California mussel to select for desirable traits like greater shell and byssal strength, amenableness to modern long-line techniques, and mass spawning capacity. The goal is to significantly expand domestic aquaculture production of mussels in Southern California using locally adapted, regionally produced, and native mussel varieties as a sustainable and nutritious food source.

Appetites for mussels and shellfish are also expanding, yet U.S. Mussel production has not increased since 2010, and represents only ~0.02% of global mussel production. In southern california, there is a unique market opportunity to significantly expand domestic aquaculture production of mussels using locally adapted, regionally produced, and native mussel varieties. We propose to develop the native california mussel (CM, m. Californianus) as a new aquaculture species, and to develop a scientifically managed breeding program for the new species. Our preliminary studies demonstrate desirable traits including greater shell and byssal strength, beautiful plate appearance, capacity for synchronized mass spawn, in-hatchery settlement, amenability to modern long-line techniques, and genomics DA