Blue mussel farming off Hrisey Island off North Iceland is underway again after a three month gap over the summer due to algae poisoning.
The company responsible for the mussels, Nordurskel is now exporting 500 kg of mussels to Belgium and France every week. Furthermore, demand from the two countries could hit six tonnes per week in the New Year, RUV reports.
The CEO of Nordurskel, Vidir Bjornsson told RUV the company is now looking for partners in Iceland’s East Fjords region to take up mussel farming, which would help meet increased demand and also reduce the likelihood of another total stop in production. The company’s search in the East continues, so far without success.
Mussels are big bussiness. There is a lot of demand in France and especially Belgium where mussels with fries are a national dish.
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Moules_frites.jpg
So far these mussels mainly come from the Netherlands (many fishermen have moved from high-sea fishing to mussels farming which provides for a much more stable income) but since prices have gone up constantly in the past years they have become reluctant to buy in the Netherlands so there is a big opportunity for Iceland.
500 kg per week is nothing, tons could be sold.
Perhaps mussel quotas could be securitised and used as leveraged collateral to guarantee an expansion of bank deposit taking abroad. No, wait a minute…
Jim,
As long as Iceland does not impose a 1000 miles zone around the island for the cultivation of mussels it is fine with me :-)
Niels – You won’t be so relaxed when Musselsave collapses with obligations to France and Belgium for billions of moules marinieres, but an insurance fund containing just a few cockles and whelks…
Funny Jim :)
> Belgium where mussels with fries are a national dish.
Are you sure Niels? – can’t see any mayo on the photo.
Niels wrote :
>So far these mussels mainly come from the Netherlands (many fishermen
>have moved from high-sea fishing to mussels farming
And the reason they have moved from fishing in their waters is.. in most cases because of the EU Common Fisheries Policy is it not ?
Fisy,
I am certain they even received subventions for their switch. Mussel-farming is just a much easier and more stable source of income.
In general the EU stimulates such shifts.
I think it is a good thing for these fishermen to shift from overfishing the sea to the sustainable harvesting of mussels. It is really big bussiness.
Terry,
Mayo usually comes in a seperate cup :-)
I would like to say that mayo is not considered a good accompaniement to mussels. Remoulade sauce is much better.
For those really interested in mussels:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/6062679/Belgians-urged-to-boycott-Dutch-mussels-in-port-row.html
http://center.uvt.nl/staff/kleijnen/mussel_auction_19_August_2009.pdf
http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-netherlands-mussels-image1361469
http://www.fukuina.com/articles/jan_feb02.htm
and a link to a good belgian recipe
http://www.pbase.com/tineke/mussels_and_fries
ot – it seems fishermen has truly bad times right now.
http://www.norwaypost.no/content/view/22615/1/
No other business can be plunged into bankruptcy overnight simply because its customers decide to repossess their own property. ,