UK: Offshore mussel farm restores shellfish reefs to England's south coast after 150 years

Offshore mussel farm restores shellfish reefs to England’s south coast after 150 years. The UK’s first large-scale offshore mussel farm is allowing shellfish reefs to return to parts of the seabed off England’s south coast for the first time in up to 150 years, a new study has revealed. Researchers have spent the past decade examining the environmental impact of the farm, which was first established in Lyme Bay off the coast of South Devon in 2013. In that time, the seabed beneath the farm’s ropes has started to transform as mussels from the lines are deposited on the seabed below. It’s changed from muddy sediment with limited biodiversity into reefs. Research shows these reefs have the potential to benefit many commercial fish and crustacean species and the ecosystem more generally. “When we first started to monitor the mussel farm in 2013, we hoped to find evidence of its potential to restore the health of the seabed,” said Dr. Emma Sheehan, associate professor in marine ...