Latin Name: Perna canaliculus
Length: 10–15cm, reaching 23cm
Family: Greenshell™ mussels are members of the Mytilidae family (mussels). Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis aoteanus) is a related species in the Mytilidae family that is abundant around (and south of) Cook Strait, but is not generally commercially harvested. The shell is a dark blue-black, often chalky white around the hinge area. They are not farmed and are smaller (five to seven centimetres) than Greenshell™ mussels. They are a subspecies of the edible European blue mussel.
- Wild Caught
- Farmed
Location
There are Greenshell™ mussel farms in Marlborough Sounds, Coromandel, Golden Bay and Stewart Island where the shellfish are grown on lines suspended from ropes above the seabed.
Sustainability
A green food source, New Zealand Greenshell™ mussels are often referenced as one of the best sustainable seafood options. As filter feeders they take all their nutrients from the seawater – nothing else is added. Every farm must operate in accordance with a resource consent that sets strict conditions determined and enforced by the local council. The consent is in effect a licence that tightly controls, among other things, the size of the farm, activities permitted and required monitoring. The Quota Management System does not apply to Greenshell™ mussels; it is instead governed by provisions within the Resource Management Act and the Aquaculture Act.
One of the world’s most successfully farmed mussels, they are found only in New Zealand.
Fishing Methods
Fishing Methods
Aquaculture
Fishing Season
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Nutrition
Source: Riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B6, vitamin D, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium
Good Source: Folate, Niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin B12, Iodine, Iron, Selenium, Omega-3 fatty acids
Seafood is a highly nutritious food and is a great source of protein. Many species are low in saturated fat and a number of them are a good source of Omega 3.
Did you know?
One 100-gram serving of Greenshell™ mussels provides a quarter of an adult’s daily protein needs and just under half the daily iodine they require.
Cooking Tips
Greenshell™ mussels are plump and richly flavoured. This versatile shellfish can be served hot or cold and cooked in a myriad of ways: bake, grill, sauté, barbeque, fry, curry, marinate, soup/chowder, smoke or steam.
