Stock Assessment, Distribution And Population Structure Of Blue Mussels (Mytilus Edulis) In Hvalfjördur South-West Iceland

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Because of an increasing interest in utilizing fishable mussel beds in Iceland an investigation was carried out on biomass, distribution and population structure of .Mytilus edulis in Hvalfjördur south-west Iceland: A dredge survey was conducted during June 1994 to provide a first assessment of resources of blue mussels in this area. Subtidal mussel beds were identified by an underwater tv-camera arid their size was estimated. As only fishable mussel beds were of interest dredging was used for sampling at water deptl1 > 2 m at low tide. During U1e survey mussels were found at 16 out of 30 stations investigated and the beds were located at 2-6 m depth. No fishable mussel beds were found at the mouth and the outer part of the fjord. The maximum densities, 2.1 - 3.9 kg m-2, were found in the innermost part of the fjord and U1e estimated total biomass in all areas investigated was 12,876 tonnes. The greatest number of the mussels sampled by the dredge had heavy shells where width exceeded shell height. At most of the stations investigated shell length over 60 mm dominated in number and the shells in the catch were mainly of commercial size (shell length >50 mm) .