Even though both ecosystem goods and services related to mussel filtration and nutrient removal through mussel harvest have been documented, stakeholders like environmental NGOs and government institutions have so far been reluctant to acknowledge mussel farming as a mitigation tool. Concerns are related both to the sparse documentation of the ecosystem services, especially in areas where conditions for mussel growth are not as good as in the Limfjorden, Denmark, as well as to the potential negative environmental impact of mussel farming, primarily local effects of biodeposition underneath the mussel farms and competition with wild species of suspension-feeders (carrying capacity).
With regard to carrying capacity it should however be recognized that mitigation cultures mainly are relevant in heavily eutrophic areas, where low phytoplankton concentrations or planktonic primary production is not a problem.