2

CONTENT

1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................3

2 Biological conditions in Mid-Norway ...................................................................................5 2.1 Possible favourable areas for blue mussel farming in Mid-Norway...............................5 2.2 Considerations regarding the biological conditions........................................................6

3 Description of the blue mussel industry in Mid-Norway and Norway..............................7

4 Marked situation and logistics ............................................................................................11 4.1 Market situation for blue mussels .................................................................................11 4.2 Logistics from Mid-Norway .........................................................................................12 4.3 Considerations regarding the market and logistics .......................................................12

5 Mid-Norway’s knowledge community................................................................................13 5.1 List of institutions for higher education in Mid-Norway..............................................13 5.2 Quality control of mussels ............................................................................................15

6 Mid-Norway’s advantages for producers of blue mussels................................................15

7 Conclusion.............................................................................................................................16

3

1 Introduction This report is prepared for Access Mid-Norway in 2007. The report seeks to describe the blue mussel industry in Mid-Norway (Nord- and Sør-Trøndelag counties) and some important conditions for mussel farming in the region. The biggest advantage Mid-Norway has for blue mussel farming is the biological conditions for production and the well-established infrastructure for seafood logistics to European markets. This document describes today’s situation in the blue mussel industry in Mid-Norway and what potentially new actors will meet regarding:

Biological conditions Commercial challenges Market possibilities Access to research and competence Growth potential

Figure 1. Map of the region (Sør- and Nord-Trøndelag counties).

4

Ambitions and potential In 2006, the marine cluster in Mid-Norway developed a Marine Strategy Plan1, for the region, where they selected eight main strategies. One of these strategies is: “Development of new marine farmed species; cod and blue mussels”. The goal is to establish a robust marine cluster of actors throughout the value-added chain, with involvement of the R&D community and industry, with a goal of producing 10,000 tons of high quality mussels within 2012. In order to reach this, among other things the following is needed:

More background documentation of the biological and other conditions for blue mussel farming in Mid-Norway

Guidance / support systems for the mussel farmers Venture capital for resources; human, development and investments

There exist substantial challenges in trying to reach this goal. Through the Marine Strategy Plan the actors in the marine cluster in the region have specified more in detail what is needed to develop the industry further.

1 Marine Strategy Plan of Mid-Norway. http://www.trondelagsradet.no/NTFK/TRweb.nsf/ShowNews?OpenForm&ID=9CB31BE28796EC0DC1257308002700CE

5

2 Biological conditions in Mid-Norway The coastline and the sea environment of Mid-Norway are topographically varied and have potentially large areas suitable for blue mussel farming. It is a region with clean water and nature, with many unoccupied areas suitable for aquaculture. Experience has shown that Mid-Norway in general has good biological and other conditions to support mussel growth. The algal production is high combined with favourable water exchange due to the current systems and there is normally a weak presence of toxic algae. The most important environmental conditions that affect the growth and risk in blue mussel farming are:

Production of microalgae/phytoplankton Sea currents – a steady current gives good conditions for constant supply of algae for the

mussels Degree of exposure – the suitability of the coastline for good mussel farms sites Predators – problems related to birds (specially Eider duck) or other animals eating the

mussels Fouling of mussels and equipment– the likelihood of getting problems with bio-fouling

organisms like starfish, tunicates (seasquirts) etc. Occurrence of algal toxins – the frequency and presence of toxin producing algae, possibly

leading to a stop and ban on harvesting and marketing the mussels. The most important toxin producing algae are Alexandrium spp. producing PSP (paralytic toxins) and Dinophysis spp. producing DSP (diarrheic toxins).

Based on experience the situation with regard to toxic algae is favourable in Mid-Norway as a whole even though there are considerable local variations. However, observations during the last few years indicate changes in the geographical and seasonal distribution of Alexandrium and Dinophysis and there is a need for a more detailed assessment of the present situation. Mid-Norway is characterized by a variation between exposed sites, fjords and more shallow areas with favourable current conditions. Having a varied coastal zone gives producers the possibilities for choosing and spreading the production to different types of areas/sites. Spreading the production to different sites helps to minimize the main natural risks related to blue mussel farming, and helps the producers to secure reliable deliveries to the market.

2.1 Possible favourable areas for blue mussel farming in Mid-Norway In general Mid-Norway has clean water with many available sites suitable for mussel farming. Based on experience from analysis of water samples from the region and extensive contact with mussel farmers over a long time period, we have selected four possible regions in Mid-Norway that are believed to be particularly favourable for blue mussel farming (see figure 2).

Vikna - Kolvereid Jøa – Namsos Fosen Eastern Hitra-Agdenes

6

Trondheim

Trondheimsfjorden

Hitra

Frøya

Vikna

Åfjord

NamsosFlatanger

Bjugn

Folda

Frohavet

BeistadfjordenSteinkjer

Trondheim

Trondheimsfjorden

Hitra

Frøya

Vikna

Åfjord

NamsosFlatanger

Bjugn

Folda

Frohavet

BeistadfjordenSteinkjer

Trondheim

Trondheimsfjorden

Hitra

Frøya

Vikna

Åfjord

NamsosFlatanger

Bjugn

Folda

Frohavet

BeistadfjordenSteinkjer

Vikna-Kolvereid

Jøa-Namsos

Fosen

Eastern Hitra-Agdenes

Source: Map from Directorate of Fisheries, 4 selected areas marked by SINTEF

Figure 2. Map over four potential favourable areas for blue mussel farming in Mid-Norway. These four areas are chosen because they are believed to have favourable growth conditions, low presence of algal toxins most of the time, are not too exposed and have few problems related to predators. This, however, needs further investigation and documentation.

2.2 Considerations regarding the biological conditions Today there exists no collated documentation or analysis of the sites that are most biologically suitable for blue mussel farming in Mid-Norway. Nor is there any documentation of the possible biological potential for blue mussel farming. From more than 20 years of algae surveillance of the coast and the biological knowledge of the Mid-Norway region at SINTEF, it is known that the region has many good sites for blue mussel farming. This knowledge is not well-compiled and documented. It is recommended, therefore that further efforts should be made to collate and document the existing experience from the Mid-Norway region in relation to factors influencing blue mussel production, and to further investigate which parts of the region are biologically most suitable for blue mussel production. It is important to find/identify sites that fulfill the following requirements:

Good natural settlement of blue mussel larvae High growth potential (involving several factors) Long harvesting periods without interruption because of weather conditions

7

3 Description of the blue mussel industry in Mid-Norway and Norway The value chain for blue mussel production can be illustrated this way:

Fry collection

Harvesting/ packaging

Prosessing On-growing site

Figure 3. The value-added chain for production of blue mussels.

In 2005, 98 persons were occupied with shellfish production in Mid-Norway. In 2007 there were 20 companies working with blue mussels in Mid-Norway (Table 2), but only 10 of these had a documented production volume. In addition 11 sole proprietorships had licences for farming of blue mussels. Together these companies had 109 shellfish licences (Figure 4), and 82 of them were in operation in 2006. The most central actors being: Snadder og Snaskum AS, Nye Åfjord Skjell AS and Oldermann Havbruk AS. The two first mainly selling to the Scandinavian market while the latter sells on the European market.

8

Table 1. Main producers of blue mussels in Mid-Norway (2007).

Companies Production sites in municipality

Main activity

Abelskjell AS Osen Cultivation and farming

Båtsvik Skjell AS Flatanger Cultivation and farming

Edulis AS Namdalseid, Namsos Cultivation and farming

Follaskjell AS Nærøy Cultivation and farming

Go'e Skjell AS Rissa Cultivation and farming

Holmenskjell DA Nærøy Cultivation and farming

Landfallvika Blåskjell A/S Namsos Cultivation and farming

Minde Skjell Åfjord Cultivation and farming

Namdalskjell AS Namdalseid Cultivation and farming

Namsenskjell AS Namsos Cultivation and farming

Nordsjø Skalldyr AS Fosnes Cultivation and farming

Nye Åfjord Skjell AS Åfjord Bjugn, Hitra Cultivation and farming .Has a packaging facility. www.afjordskjell.no

Nærøy Marine Farms AS Nærøy Cultivation and farming

Oldermann Havbruk AS In many municipalities

Main site in Mid-Norway. Ownership in production companies in different regions of Norway. Owns a blue mussel packaging facility in France together with a French seafood company, which gives access to the markets in Europe.

Sias Skjellfarm AS Frøya Cultivation and farming

Snadder og Snaskum AS Rissa, Åfjord

Cultivation and farming .The main producer in Mid-Norway. Existed since 1980s. Has a packaging facility in Rissa. Owns shares in other producers. www.snadderogsnaskum.no

Verrasundet Skjell AS Verran Cultivation and farming

Viknaskjell AS Vikna Cultivation and farming

Ytre Namdal Mussel Company DA Nærøy Cultivation and farming

Årsethskjell AS Leka, Nærøy Cultivation and farming

Source: Directorate of Fisheries, “Akvakulturtillatelser pr. 25.06.2007”

9

Trondheim

Trondheimsfjorden

Hitra

Frøya

Vikna

Åfjord

NamsosFlatanger

Bjugn

Folda

Frohavet

BeistadfjordenSteinkjer

Trondheim

Trondheimsfjorden

Hitra

Frøya

Vikna

Åfjord

NamsosFlatanger

Bjugn

Folda

Frohavet

BeistadfjordenSteinkjer

Source: Directorate of Fisheries

Figure 4. Map of Mid-Norway (Sør and- Nord Trøndelag) showing all the issued licences for mussel farming. 2007. All together, Mid-Norway sold 1,254 tons of blue mussels in 2006, which stands for 34 % of the Norwegian production (Figure 5). The average price to growers in Norway was 4.12 NOK/kg in 2006, while in Sør-Trøndelag it was 10.74 NOK/kg and in Nord-Trøndelag 3.76 NOK/kg (Figure 6 and Table 1). The difference between the two counties is due to the fact that they deliver different products. In Sør-Trøndelag the producers have mainly delivered live mussels in 1-2 kg bags to the Norwegian and Scandinavian inland market, while the producers in Nord-Trøndelag have delivered the mussels mostly in bulk bags (25 kg bags) for export.

Sales of blue mussels in Mid-Norway, in tons. 1999-2006

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Met

ric

tons Nord-Trøndelag

Sør-TrøndelagNorway

Source: Directorate of Fisheries

Figure 5. Sales of blue mussels in Mid-Norway, in tons. 1999-2006.

10

Blue mussels in Mid-Norway, price per kilo. 1999-2006

-

2,00

4,00

6,00

8,00

10,00

12,00

14,00

16,00

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

NO

K p

r ki

lo

Nord-TrøndelagSør-TrøndelagNorway

Source: Directorate of Fisheries

Figure 6. Sales of blue mussels in Mid-Norway, price per kilo. 1999-2006

Table 3. Sales of blue mussels and price paid to producers in 2006. Sales, ton NOK/kg

Nord-Trøndelag county 734 3.76

Sør-Trøndelag county 520 10.74

Whole of Norway 3,705 4.12

Source: Directorate of Fisheries One of the larger actors in Mid-Norway delivers fresh blue mussels (intact byssus thread) to France, where the mussels are further sorted, cleaned and packed. The rest of the producers deliver primarily fresh mussels (removed byssus thread) to the Norwegian or Scandinavian market, in larger or smaller bags.

11

4 Marked situation and logistics

4.1 Market situation for blue mussels The blue mussel production in Europe is around 700 – 800,000 tons per year, where Spain, Italy, Denmark and France are the largest producers. About 75% of the production is Mytilus edulis and about 550,000 tons are farmed shells. The blue mussel market is a well-established fastidious and demanding market. The European production is not large enough to satisfy the European market and large volumes are imported from e.g. New Zealand and Chile. The different markets have different preferences. In Belgium and the Netherlands they prefer large mussels, while in France they prefer smaller mussels. In addition to size, the different markets have specific demands to factors like:

Degree of freshness Meat content Shell thickness and appearance of the shells Colour of gonads

The Norwegian inland market is estimated to be about 1,000 tons (roughly 400 tons to households and 600 tons to restaurants and catering) and so far most of the producers in Sør-Trøndelag have delivered here. For the Norwegian market, most of the mussels are packed alive in consumer packs of 1-2 kg. Exported mussels are mainly sold alive in large quantities over 25 kg (“jutesack”), but also in smaller quantities (e.g. packed in modified atmosphere, MAP). The export prices have been very low the last years, from 2002-2006 the average price of fresh mussels from Norway was from 3.30 NOK/kg to 5.75 NOK/kg. The table below shows the export prices for 2006.

Table 4. Export of blue mussels from Norway (2006).

Product Volume, ton NOK/kgBlue mussels, alive, fresh or chilled , 25 kg or less packages 93 18.72Blue mussels, alive, fresh or chilled , larger than 25 kg packages 1,852 4.88Blue mussels, prepared, conserved 53 6.90Blue mussels, frozen, dried, salted 118 9.20 Source: Norwegian Seafood Export Council The main reason for the low prices has been the large volume of shells exported in large packages (in bulk) in addition to uneven quality. In 2006 the average price for fresh mussels in sacks smaller than 25 kg was 18.72 NOK/kg, while it was NOK 4.88 /kg for mussels in packages larger than 25 kg. The price for prepared shells is considerably higher, but so far the volumes delivered to these markets has been very low.

12

4.2 Logistics from Mid-Norway

Today, almost all transport of blue mussels from Mid-Norway is done by road. The transport of fresh mussels can in many ways be compared to the transport of salmon. After the byssus thread is removed, it should last no more than 1.5 days before the mussels are in the stores ready for sale in Europe; preferably the time should be even shorter. Fresh salmon are transported from Mid-Norway to the markets in Europe within 1-3 days; e.g. transport to France takes 2 days if the truck has 1 driver, or 1 day if it has 2 drivers. The salmon industry is large in Mid-Norway with an annual production around 142,000 tons of salmon in 2006. This industry has well-established transport routes to Europe, where most of the production is transported by road in containers. Logistic systems including transport routes to all main countries in Europe exist and are well established with several professional transport companies. These transporters can satisfy producers’ demands like; transport time to market, full transport units (a truck will usually take only 20 tons), unbroken cooling chain, minimum reloading/transfer. Today some of the blue mussel industry uses the established salmon transports from Mid-Norway and load the trucks with mussels. This will not be a good solution when the production of blue mussels expands considerably. With well-established transport routes to Europe and experienced transport companies present in the region, this should form a good basis for the establishment of new blue mussel exports from Mid-Norway.

4.3 Considerations regarding the market and logistics Most of the present production in Mid-Norway is delivered to the Norwegian market (fresh mussels without byssus thread). If one shall increase the production of blue mussels, more of the products must be sold to the European markets. There are two possible strategies for this: delivery of mussels with or without intact byssus threads. If one delivers a product with intact byssus thread, as most producers selling to Europe do today, all processing and further value added will occur abroad (in Europe). If the strategy chosen is to add value in Norway, it is necessary to find alternative products. It is only marginally possible to reach the main markets in Europe from Mid-Norway within 36 hours, which is the recommended maximum time from removal of the byssus threads until the fresh mussels should be in the counters ready for sale. This means that a growing blue mussel industry in Mid-Norway needs to seek solutions for prolonged/extended shelf-life of blue mussels. One needs to focus on alternative products (to fresh mussels without byssus-thread) through preparation, conservation and different wrapping/packaging technology (e.g., MAP). More knowledge is needed about alternative blue mussel products, with longer shelf-life, and derived compound food “products”, which producers in Mid-Norway could serve to the European market. This should include further product development, ready-to-eat products like Bantry Bay products from Ireland, and both fresh and frozen products.

13

5 Mid-Norway’s knowledge community

5.1 List of institutions for higher education in Mid-Norway Mid-Norway has an advantage by virtue of the many institutions of higher education, R&D and expertise that have been working with blue mussels, the main ones being:

NTNU- Trondhjem Biological Station (www.bio.ntnu.no) and NTNU SeaLab TBS is the University's (NTNU) centre for marine biological research. It houses a multitude of seawater facilities and has two research vessels available. The offices and laboratory building are situated directly at the Trondheimsfjord, 6 km from the two main campuses, and 3 km from the city centre. TBS has five permanent scientific positions and a permanent technical/administrative staff of five persons. Additionally, several scientists are hired on externally funded projects, as well as post-docs and PhD students are present at TBS. TBS has the teaching responsibility for the Master education program in Marine Biology at NTNU and usually a dozen Masters students in Marine Biology have their daily work at the station. NTNU has recently opened NTNU SeaLab, a comprehensive initiative by the providing of a common ground and building for the research groups with focus on aquaculture, fisheries and the processing of marine resources. The centre is intended as a physical node and workshop for multidisciplinary marine cooperation, inside NTNU and with SINTEF. At present time there are people here from four out of NTNU's seven faculties. Other departments of NTNU have also activities toward the blue mussel industry.

SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture (www.sintef.no/fish) SINTEF is the largest independent research organisation in Scandinavia. The most important unit within marine research is SINTEF Marine with the two institutes SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture and The Norwegian Marine Technology Research Institute – MARINTEK. SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture has specialists in toxic microalgae, working with, among other things, analyses of algae samples. They have the main responsibility of analysing water samples for the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and blue mussel growers. They also provide an operational monitoring and forecasting service (a weekly “Algae watch of the Norwegian coast”) on behalf of the insurance industry in Norway, covering also toxic algae. SINTEF also have specialists working with technology and design of mussel farms and other aquaculture constructions as well as modelling transport of e.g. nutrients and organic material.

St.Olavs Hospital – Department of clinic pharmacology (www.stolavs.no) This department has a specialised laboratory which performs extensive analytical service regarding pharmaceuticals, drugs and other biological materials. For the blue mussel industry they perform chemical analyses and biological assays of mussels for algae toxins, serving all commercial producers of mussels in Norway. They also take part in the interpretation of lab results.

14

Trondheim Kommune – Analysesenteret (www.trondheim.kommune/analysesenteret) Mid-Norway’s largest accredited laboratory for routine analysis of: water, food, environment and air. They receive the blue mussel samples from the companies, prepare them, perform analysis for bacteriological analysis themselves and forward prepared samples to St.Olavs Hospital for algae toxin analysis.

Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet, www.mattilsynet.no) A governmental body, focusing on healthy and safe food and drinking water. They have one regional office and 14 district offices in Mid-Norway. They have the main responsibility for issuing export documents, such as certificates for fish and fishery products for export. They are running a “Surveillance programme for mussels”, where they monitor the occurrence of algae, algae toxins, microorganisms and micropolutants, covering the whole of the Norwegian coast. In Mid-Norway their district offices at Fosen and Namdal have the responsibility of issuing/withdrawing harvesting permits for the blue mussel producers.

Directorate of Fisheries - region Mid-Norway (Fiskeridirektoratet, www.fiskeridir.no) The executive authority in region Mid-Norway is set up on behalf of the Directorate of Fisheries in Bergen and the Ministry of Coastal Affairs and Fisheries. They work both with fisheries and aquaculture related matters. The Directorate of Fisheries administers local guidance offices in the region; in Vikna, Flatanger, Åfjord and Frøya/Hitra. They have the responsibility of managing marine resources and the marine environment. This includes the responsibility of processing applications for mussel permits and conducting monitoring and control of the industry.

Val Upper Secondary School (www.val.vgs.no)

Val Upper Secondary School, situated in Nord-Trøndelag, has provided abundant resources for the development of the local regional shellfish industry. The school has given training in shellfish farming and established Follaskjell AS, a company for the production of blue mussels. Val also offers upper secondary school education within aquaculture. Val is the operator of Skjellsenteret.no

Skjellsenteret.no (www.skjellsenteret.no) Skjellsenteret.no is established as a tool for the development of the Norwegian blue mussel industry. The internet site has its origin in Mid-Norway but aims to cover the entire country. It presents news, practical experiences and reports/research results connected to the blue mussel industry. The internet site is run from Val Upper Secondary School.

Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA, www.niva.no)

This is a national institution for water research (head office is in Oslo, research department in Trondheim). NIVA has 6 employees in Trondheim.

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA, www.nina.no) NINA is a national institution for applied ecological research. The headquarters are located in Trondheim and it employs 165 persons. NINA has amongst other things performed basic research related to interactions from predators’ (birds) grazing on blue mussels.

Norwegian Seafood Federation (FHL, www.fhl.no) This organisation represents fishmeal and fish feed producers, fish farmers, the processing industry and the biomarine ingredient industry. It has a branch office in Trondheim.

15

Norwegian Seafood Association (NSL, www.nsl.no) This is a central association for the fishing industry, with its head office in Trondheim.

Sør– and Nord-Trøndelag Fylkeskommune (www.stfk.no and www.ntfk.no) These are the governmental bodies that initiated and carried out the work with the Marine Strategy Plan for Mid-Norway. Under the “Department of industry” (Næringsavdelingen), each of the bodies has a person responsible for the Fisheries and Aquaculture industry. Together with Innovation Norway they have available funds which can support further development of the marine sector.

This community of relevant expertise has taken an active part in dialogue, educating and counselling blue mussel producers. Some farmers have been seeking cooperation with these centres and have met production challenges with adjustments in operation, based on discussions with the competence centres. The close cooperation between certain producers and the competence centres has brought a large portion of realism amongst the producers. The Mid-Norway region has a public administration which has the responsibility for issuing permits for shellfish production, sites for production (Fiskeridirektoratet) and food control (Mattilsynet). The national surveillance system for mussels has always been organised from Trondheim (Mattilsynet).

5.2 Quality control of mussels Mid-Norway has established a “Specialist group for quality control of mussels” which consists of: St.Olavs- Departement of clinical pharmacology, Trondheim Kommune Analysesenteret, SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture (staff with international certificates for identification of harmful algae) and the producer Oldermanngruppen AS. Together this team has been able to set up a system which provides the growers in the region fast and reliable results on “quality control”. Today it takes a maximum of 4 days (minimum of 2 days) from the time samples are sent from the producer until all analytical results are ready and judged by the local department of Mattilsynet. No other Norwegian districts can provide the same service to their mussel producers.

6 Mid-Norway’s advantages for producers of blue mussels From the above, we summarise the advantages that potentially new actors can expect in Mid-Norway:

Large areas suitable for the production of blue mussels. Experience shows good mussel growth and few problems related to toxic algae.

A knowledge-based infrastructure (research, development, governmental and industrial bodies) with relevant expertise for the blue mussel industry and with active partners in dialogue with producers.

Open-minded and efficient public and governmental administration. A system which assures quick and reliable quality control of mussels for marketing. Some producers are about to settle in the region creating an industry based on experience and knowledge.

A well-established supplier industry delivering products and services to the marine industry. Good logistics based on systems established in the salmon industry.

16

7 Conclusion Experience from several years of algae monitoring and experience from mussel farmers in Mid-Norway indicates that conditions for mussel farming in Mid-Norway in general is good. However, we recommend that a more thorough assessment with respect to biological and hydrographical issues is made of four geographical areas that are especially promising:

Vikna - Kolvereid in Nord-Trøndelag Jøa - Namos in Nord-Trøndelag Fosen in Sør-Trøndelag Eastern Hitra – Agdenes in Sør-Trøndelag

The blue mussel industry in Mid-Norway consists of a few larger companies, some producing mainly for the Norwegian and Scandinavian market and some for the European market. A number of smaller producers sell their production through the larger companies. Logistics to take mussels to the market in Norway and abroad is so far mainly based on systems developed for farmed salmon. More specific logistics for mussels will need to be developed with an increasing production, both to be able to bring more mussels to the market and to ensure that the mussels get to the market in due time. Developing new products that have longer shelf life than the traditional fresh products will increase flexibility with regard to handling and transport time. The knowledge community in Mid-Norway, that can support a growing mussel industry, is very strong and includes several institutions and authorities that have national responsibility within their field.

TrondheimAddress: NO-7465 Trondheim, NorwayPhone: +47 73 59 30 00Fax: +47 73 59 33 50

OsloAddress: P.O. Box 124, Blindern, NO-0314 Oslo, NorwayPhone: +47 22 06 73 00Fax: +47 22 06 73 50