The cultivation of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) has been successfully developed for decades in the Galician Rías (NW Iberian Peninsula) and represents a socio-economic sector of great relevance in the coastal areas of Galicia. The total mussel production in Galicia accounts for 90% of Spain’s output, with an annual average of 250,000 tons, representing approximately 40% of the total production in the European Union. However, at the present, mussel farming worldwide are immersed in uncertainties and challenges, often associated with global change, which plays a significant role in current environmental variability and its impact on the responses of farmed organisms and their accompanying fauna. Additionally, current trends of market rhythms are promoting the harvest of smaller (and younger) mussels which may affect the sustainability of current farming system by affecting reproductive capacity of the metapopulation which in turn is the base for ensuring new recruits and the continuation of the farming activity.This article highlights several aspects of these two issues that may disrupt mussel production and analyse the importance of considering both the climatic aspect and its effects on organisms, as well as specific factors derived from the current farming and market systems. Altogether, these factors have to be considered for predicting the potential of population´s reestablishment along the Galician coast and will required further detailed analysis

The authors acknowledge financial support received by MCIN/AEI through projects REDEIRA (Ref: TED2021-132188B-I00), STRAUSS (Ref: PID2019-106008RB-C21) and CLIMANAGE (Ref. PID2023-151928OB-I00) as well as by The Marine Science Program, ThinkInAzul, in Galicia supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Xunta de Galicia (Working Package: PT7) with funding from European Union NextGenerationEU (PRTR-C17.I1) and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

XXVI Foro dos Recursos Mariños e da Acuicultura das Rías Galegas, O Grove, 9-10 de outubro de 2024

Peer reviewed