Freshwater Shellfish Farming

Freshwater Shellfish Farming

Freshwater Shellfish Farming is the farming of freshwater mussels and clams for consumption or for pearls. Freshwater shellfish farming started in the United States in the 1930s, but was stopped due to pollution from nearby industry. In the early 2000s, freshwater shellfish farming experienced a revival as an environmentally friendly way to produce food.

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Freshwater Shellfish Farming is done in lakes, ponds, and rivers that have clean water that is relatively free of pollutants. The most commonly grown mussel is the zebra mussel. The zebra mussel can be farmed in large quantities and can grow up to 3 inches long. Other types of shellfish include clams, oysters, and scallops.

The process of growing freshwater shellfish begins with collecting adult shellfish from their natural habitats. Adult shellfish are then brought to a hatchery where they are kept in recirculating systems that control the water quality and food availability. After about six weeks, larvae begin to form and attach themselves to ropes or nets submerged in tanks of water. After about two months, larvae will grow large enough to attach themselves to a hard surface such as rocks or concrete blocks before being released into clean bodies of water where they will mature.

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Freshwater shellfish farming is the world's fastest growing aquaculture sector, with an annual growth rate of about 10%. It is now practiced in many parts of the globe for the production of freshwater pearl mussels and freshwater pearl oysters. Much of this growth has been driven by commercial pearl production from Pinctada margaritifera and Pteria penguin, where a single pearl can be worth more than US$100,000.