More than 95% of the world’s mussels are farmed on ropes that hang in the sea. These ropes, which are crucial for mussel farming, are wrapped with so-called mussel socks to ensure that the mussel seeds stick well. Traditionally, these socks are made of cotton, but their use has several environmental disadvantages and is not ideal for the growing conditions of mussels. Senbis has successfully developed a marine biodegradable yarn that can serve as an alternative to cotton for this application.
Environmental disadvantages of cotton
Cotton has been used for many years to produce mussel socks. Although the material is effective in retaining mussel seeds, it has several disadvantages. The biggest problem is the decomposition time, which mainly depends on the thickness of the yarn used. In areas where mussels grow more slowly due to specific water conditions, the cotton socks degrade too quickly, leading to loss of the harvest. In other areas where mussels grow faster, the socks can hinder the growth of the mussels.
In addition, cotton has a significant ecological footprint. Growing cotton requires large amounts of water and pesticides, which makes the material less suitable for organic mussel farming. Mussel farmers who want to sell their products with an organic label are therefore increasingly asked not to use cotton.
Marine biodegradable yarn
Senbis, a company focused on sustainable solutions, has now developed a marine biodegradable yarn that is specifically designed for use in mussel farming. In collaboration with Machinefabriek W. Bakker, a supplier of equipment for the mussel industry, and Blackshell Farm in Ireland, a new mussel sock was developed that can replace the traditional cotton variant.
The biggest challenge in developing the new yarn was to find a material that breaks down in seawater within about a month, without losing the mechanical properties required for mussel farming. Existing polymers were not suitable to guarantee both the breakdown and the required strength. Therefore, Senbis developed a new yarn by making a compound based on thermoplastic starch and other biopolymers.
This innovation not only offers a solution to the disadvantages of cotton socks, but also contributes to more sustainable mussel farming. The biodegradable yarn is not only more environmentally friendly, but also ensures that mussel farmers can better respond to the growing conditions of their mussels, which ultimately leads to a higher yield and less waste.
Source: Senbis
