Shellfish

Introduction to shellfish production

Shellfish farmers cultivate bivalves, like mussels and oysters, in aquaculture farms for food. Choosing your farming site carefully is essential because bivalves depend on clean seawater. Scotland’s coastal waters are also heavily regulated, so you will need patience and organisational skills in going through the lengthy process of getting permissions. Growing bivalves is environmentally low-impact and can benefit marine ecosystems. 

Farming shellfish is a form of livestock management and comes with legal responsibilities on caring for their welfare throughout the year. Monitoring water quality and good biosecurity management are a critical part of shellfish production, and you will need to comply with food safety regulations.

Before starting your shellfish farm, you should get hands-on experience in aquaculture and speak to other farmers. The Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers is a good first point of contact, and the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre has a group for women in Scottish aquaculture. At university level, there are various MSc courses on aquaculture.