Dossier
Mussels, oysters and other shellfish
Due to the growing world population, the demand for sustainably produced protein is increasing. Shellfish are at the lower end of the food chain and their growth has limited climate impact, which makes them well suited for this purpose. In addition, shellfish play a crucial role in the ecosystem, for example as food for birds and as a habitat for a large number of plant and animal species. Shellfish also provide other ecosystem services, such as maintaining water quality and contributing to coastal defences as 'biobuilders'. Wageningen University & Research monitors shellfish stocks in Dutch waters, tests food safety and advises on shellfish cultivation in coastal areas and offshore, also in relation to offshore wind farms and nature development.
When it comes to shellfish, there are issues surrounding exploitation and nature (policy). Shellfish are fished and farmed in the waters of the Oosterschelde, Lake Grevelingen and Wadden Sea. We carry out our research for and together with the shellfish sector, the Ministry of LNV and I&W, the European Commission and nature conservation organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund. Shellfish fishery is dependent on the size and quality of fishable stocks. Social support (licence to produce) for the fishery is also essential.
Shellfish: Q&A
Which shellfish live in Dutch waters?
How sustainable and environmentally friendly is shellfish farming?
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Shellfish, sustainable and healthy
- Shellfish fishery and farming takes place in the waters of the Oosterschelde, Grevelingenmeer and Wadden Sea. These are protected nature areas where many other parties also have an interest. Public support is needed to be able to use these areas. Having a social licence to produce is therefore essential for Dutch mussel and oyster farmers. This requires the growers to continuously pay active attention to sustainable and nature-inclusive business operations. This project makes the available scientific knowledge about sustainable, nature-inclusive shellfish production and shellfish as a healthy, safe and sustainable product available in an accessible manner for practical use by shellfish farmers, chain companies and fisheries schools. Nature and consumer organisations and governments also benefit from this knowledge. The various target groups receive up-to-date knowledge on various subjects in the form of master classes and mutual exchanges take place. These are supported by (interactive) popular documentation, which is available online and kept up-to-date. -
Draagkracht voor schelpdieren
- In Nederland worden er jaarlijks zo'n 50 miljoen kilo mosselen en 30 miljoen oesters gekweekt. Wat is de draagkracht van de Oosterschelde, het Grevelingenmeer en de Waddenzee voor de kweek van schelpdieren, gegeven de natuurlijke populaties van schelpdieren die er voorkomen? Wageningen Marine Research onderzoekt deze draagkracht voor een optimaal evenwicht tussen natuur en voedselproductie.
How are mussels, oysters and cockles grown or caught?
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Mussel seed capture installations (MZIs)
- Mussel seed capture installations (MZIs) are a new technique for extracting seed from mussels. This technique makes use of the life cycle of mussels. Wageningen University & Research is conducting research into the effects of MZIs. -
EMFF Yield improvement in oyster production
- Two types of oysters are cultivated in the Netherlands. The flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) which occurs naturally in Dutch waters and the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) also known as the Zeeland Creuse, which was introduced in the 1960s. The oyster sector has had to contend with various threats, particularly in recent years, including the oyster herpes virus and the oyster drill. In order to prevent predation of oysters by the oyster drill, off-bottom cultivation is used as an alternative by a part of the oyster farmers.
How important are shellfish for nature restoration?
How are mussel and oyster beds used for coastal defence?
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What is the effect of climate change on shellfish?
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Climate change: will cockles disappear?
- The number of heatwaves in the Netherlands is on the rise due to climate change. Apparently, this is something cockles do not handle well: there were mass mortalities among cockles in the summers of 2018, 2019 and 2020 during heatwaves. In periods of extreme heat, the mortality rate among cockles in the Wadden Sea and Oosterschelde varied between 60 and 96 per cent, depending on age and region. How precisely does temperature affect the quality of benthic life and food supply for birds? Wageningen Marine Research scientists conducted soil temperature measurements commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (Dutch acronym LNV). They conclude that extreme mortality rates are the result of high temperatures on sandbanks during low tide, where cockles are buried in the sediment. -
FutureMARES
- Marine ecosystems provide fundamental climate regulation, food and cultural services. FutureMARES focuses on socially responsible and economically viable actions, strategies and nature-based solutions to safeguard these ecosystem services.
What are the risks to food safety?
Can you identify and/or eliminate diseases in shellfish?
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Fish and shellfish diseases
- In Lelystad we have a specialized fish and shellfish diseases laboratory. This is the one complete diseases laboratory in the Netherlands for cultured fish for human consumption, ornamental and wild fish and shellfish. -
Bonamia-free oysters: temperature and bacterial growth
- To strengthen the natural biodiversity of the North Sea, several pilot projects are being carried out in the Netherlands to restore flat oyster beds (Ostrea edulis). Oyster cultivation is being investigated as a method to obtain sufficient source material. This project investigates the influence of water quality on the survival of oyster larvae.
