Mussel exports rise to $12M a year

Press, 24 October 1984, Page 20

Mussel exports rise to $12M a year

PA Wellington Mussels in all shapes and forms are fast becoming another big export success story for the fishing industry. From an almost standing start about five years ago, mussel farmers have now developed export markets valued at about ?12 million a year. ■ ■' ■■ ■ : r.i s:-2'j About 10,000 tonnes of mussels will be harvested this year and they will be snapped up by markets in Japan, Australia, and the United States. The marketing manager of the Fishing Industry Board, Mr Russell Armitage, believes that it is only the tip of the iceberg for a promising new industry. “Production could be four

or five times the present level, but we have to - be careful to keep production in concert with market development,” he said. It has also fast become an added-value export industry as mussels are sold marinated, smoked, as meat for pizzas, frozen in half-shells, as a medical cure for arthritis, and also live to the United States. • The assistant marketing manager for the board, Mr David Payne, said that Japan was the most important customer, taking about half the annual production, mainly in frozen half-shells. There, was also a big demand for mussel meat in Japan.

Australia took about 24 per cent of all mussel ex-

ports, showing a strong preference for marinated mussels. Trials with live' mussel exports to the United States were proving successful with good potential for expansion, said Mr Payne. While there is firm resistance to the expansion of mussel, farming areas in the Hauraki Gulf and Northland, the.board says there is still room for more mussel farms in the Marlborough Sounds in areas already designated for the industry. One of the bright aspects of the industry is that, unlike most other forms of fishing, it is relatively fuelefficient and not subject to sudden high costs resulting from fuel price increases.