Garware launches ropes for mussel farming. The ropes for the seeds of the Chilean mussel – endemic to southern Chile – is the recent development of Garware Technical Fibres. The cultivation of this bivalve mollusc for consumption requires the collection of “seeds” – or larvae settled in the substrate – for subsequent “sowing” and fattening in hanging plants. “The shape of our rope allows the mussel to adhere more efficiently; Its polypropylene fibres are highly fibrillated loops, thus offering resistance as a support for the growth of the mussel,” comments Francisco Serra, commercial manager of Garware Technical Fibres Chile.
This line designed for collecting mytilid seeds is UV stabilised to ensure durability in aquatic environments. It can be provided in different loop sizes, according to customer requirements. It has a diameter of 16 mm and the loop has a length of 40 to 50 mm, made in three strands for greater resistance. The length of the coil is continuous, making it easy to handle and store, providing a robust and flexible solution.
Industry relevance
“The cultivation and processing of mussels is a fundamental activity in Chilean aquaculture and has significant contributions to the national economy, with exports exceeding 370 million dollars per year. Almost 100% of mussel farming in Chile comes from the X Region of Los Lagos and involves various actors that make up an industry with more than 650 growers, of which more than 90% are smaller companies,” commented Rodrigo Carrasco, Executive Director of Mitilicultores de Chile (AmiChile), a union that brings together the cultivation, processing and export of mussels.
“The synergy between the experience and technical knowledge of Garware Technical Fibres, together with the growing demand for specialised products for aquaculture, make this business expansion a promising strategy both for the company and for the development and strengthening of the mussel farming sector. in the region; considering that it is the second most important aquaculture activity in the country, with great economic and gastronomic interest. Furthermore, it reflects Garware’s commitment to innovation and support for the development of aquaculture in Chile and other regions where this activity is relevant,” concludes Serra.
The mussels require natural banks that generate seeds, which are then captured and subsequently transferred to fattening centres. The collection of mussel larvae is carried out in specific areas, because they are filter-feeding animals that live attached to the substrate, with a spawning period that implies seasonality in their reproduction. www.garwarefibres.com
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The shape of the new Garware Technical Fibres ropes allows the mussel to adhere more efficiently; Its polypropylene fibres are highly fibrillated loops, thus offering resistance as a support for the growth of the mussel.