Mussels fishing has already been taking place in Dutch waters for more than 150 years. The two cultivation areas are the Eastern Scheldt and the Wadden Sea, which combined cover approximately 6000 hectares.
Wadden Sea
The Wadden Sea has the highest number of mussel beds; the strong influence of the tides and the resulting higher supply of food for the mussels also makes this the most suitable cultivation area. Due to the dynamic characteristics of the area, the yield in the Wadden Sea however is less constant than in the Eastern Scheldt. Heavy storms can negatively impact mussel populations in the Wadden Sea.
Eastern Scheldt
Storm and predators such as crabs and starfish can significantly affect the quantities in the Wadden Sea, while the conditions in the Eastern Scheldt are highly stable due to the presence of the large storm surge barrier there.