Food - Drink
Most Of The World's Mussels Come From This Country
By NATASHA BAILEY
Mussels are a particularly beloved shellfish, as they are well suited to various cultural cuisines from around the world. These little shellfish are delicious almost any way you prepare them, and while you might be able to find them at fresh seafood markets, there is one country in particular that dominates the mussel industry.
China, thanks to its approximately 9,000 miles-long coastline, is responsible for sourcing most of the world’s mussels, predominantly to feed fisheries. In 2018, almost half the global share of mussels were harvested in China, where Rizhao City is the largest mussel breeding base to date, dedicating 20,000 hectares to it.
There are over 50 species of mussels recognized on the Chinese coast today, including the blue mussel, the green mussel, and the thick shell mussel. Per "Goods and Services of Marine Bivalves," Chinese shellfish culture dates back 2,000 years, but it was in the 1950s when breeding techniques were adapted for larger scale farming.