March 6, 2000

After two years of intensive research and development, Great Eastern Mussel Farms is gradually moving from bottom-cultured mussels to "raft-cultured" mussels. GEM's raft-cultured partnership with local fishermen is the only operation of its kind on the East Coast.

Great Eastern president, Chip Davison, said, "We're concentrating on producing a high-quality 'choice' mussel and ensuring a more than adequate supply for the millennium."

The first Great Eastern Mussel rafts were harvested in the fall of 1999; now the harvesting process continues through the year.

The actual method starts with a "seed set" which is collected every May and July; they catch the "set" which is allowed to grow until October or November at which time the mussels are about 1 inch long. Then they are stripped off the line, graded for size and put back on the ropes at 120 mussels per linear foot. In one year, the mussels will have grown to a uniform size and can be harvested.

The company is using the Spanish method of growing mussels. GEM has developed partnerships, one with Maine Steel Manufacturing and Scottish Aquaculture Raft to build the rafts in Maine, and another with Crowe Rope. The ropes for the rafts, which must be moored in 45 feet of water at low tide, are 35 feet long.