On Saturday, Helsingborg’s first sea colony plot was inaugurated, where blue mussels are grown in so-called mussel stockings. The hope is that the mussels will be edible and that they will not contain environmental toxins from the water.
But there are more purposes for the project, says Annelie Eckeskog, project manager and marine biologist at the City of Helsingborg.
– One idea with the project is that it should make people interested in what happens under the surface of the water. In the long run, it can contribute to better care for the oceans, she says.
Mussel farming can also contribute to greater biological diversity in the harbor area, says the project manager.
In the clip, you can see the mussel stockings in the harbor.
Needs to be cleared as an allotment on land
The sea colony lot in Helsingborg is special in the sense that there is no similar project in Sweden where residents of the community can get involved and help. In other parts of the country, it is more controlled by researchers, says Anneli Eckeskog.
The project manager describes that like an allotment on land, where weeds need to be cleared from time to time, the mussel socks also need to be cleared.
Camilla Ljungerud is one of the 70 who chose to get involved. Together they keep the mussel socks in good condition and ensure they don’t get lost.
– When I started, I didn’t know anyone, says Camilla Ljungerud, who thinks there has become a nice community among the volunteers.