In the Baltic, a number of projects with the aim to develop mussel farming have been carried out over the last couple of years, e.g. ”Baltic blue growth” (2013-16), ”Baltic Ecomussel” (2012-13), Submariner (2010-13), ”Mussel farming as an environmental measure in the Baltic” (2009-12), ”Aquabest” (2011-14) and ”AQUAFIMA” (2011-14). Most of these projects are INTERREG projects with primary focus on design support tools, feasibility studies and strategic analysis.
To some extent pilot scale studies of actual mussel farming in the Central Baltic have been part of the projects but the results of the reported experiments are very hard to interpret due to technical problems or the small scale of the pilot experiments. When testing in pilot scale and/or not using production techniques adapted to local conditions and experienced technical assistance, there is a huge risk that results will be misleading. Mussel farming requires technical skills like any other form of aquaculture and choice of production methods require experience and knowledge of local conditions. Further, in effect none of the mentioned projects have addressed the environmental impact of mussel farming and have relied entirely on the basic concept of mitigation, i.e. removal of nutrients through harvest of mussels.
BONUS OPTIMUS will address the need for basic scientific documentation based on research of the theoretical negative vs. positive effects of mussel farming in existing and new farms and especially to test the real potential of mussel farming as a key player in blue growth and as a tool for mitigation of effects of eutrophication in the Baltic.