New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel Farming

Green Lipped Mussels (Perna canaliculus) are native to, and grow only in, New Zealand.

While they grow wild in New Zealand waters, they are also “farmed” in designated areas, using a series of buoys and ropes. The farms are located in coastal ocean areas that allow the mussels to live and grow in their natural environment.

Farming food and medicine from the seas

The main purpose for mussel farming is actually for food, but it also produces a valuable medicinal product. Mussel farming avoids depleting natural resources, because the mussels are cultivated on marine farms instead of taken from their natural beds.

Experimental mussel farming started in New Zealand in the late 1960s. The world’s first green-lipped mussel farms were established in 1972 by McFarlane Laboratories NZ Ltd, just off the coast of Waiheke Island.

Farmed mussels generally grow to around 10-15cm long, although they can reach 23cm; and they are usually harvested after 14 to 18 months.

Environmentally friendly and strictly regulated

Marine farms in New Zealand are strictly controlled. In fact, regulations are such that every kilo of Biolane® can be traced back to the time of day and specific farm from which the mussels that made it were harvested.

No feeds, fertilisers or herbicidal agents are involved at any stage. Instead, mussel farming optimises the natural properties of the sea water.

Guaranteed from clean, unpolluted waters

Unlike many countries that produce shellfish, New Zealand has little heavy industry and few pollution sources. This means its clear, clean coastal waters are highly productive; and have an excellent temperature range for several species.

In fact, New Zealand’s shellfish growing waters are some of the cleanest and most monitored in the world. Biolane^® mussels come mainly from farms on the Coromandel Coast, but also Marlborough Sounds and the Hauraki Gulf.

For added food safety assurance, New Zealand Green Lipped Mussels are only grown and harvested in waters that meet or exceed the USA National Shellfish Sanitation Program Water Quality Standards.

Heavily monitored for everything from rainfall to algal blooms

Because all shellfish can be affected by runoff from land-based activities, independent authorities constantly monitor rainfall levels in New Zealand.

The country also leads the world in researching, understanding and monitoring biotoxin events. For example, algal blooms are naturally occurring marine phenomena that can occur anywhere, any time, within any marine environment. They are not specific to New Zealand waters, but may occasionally occur.

Because of this, all farming sites are regularly monitored by the New Zealand Marine Biotoxin Authority for the presence of algal blooms. This programme complements other governmental monitoring and quality assurance programmes, to help ensure that New Zealand shellfish are truly safe.

End ingredient monitoring and testing

In addition to all the testing and monitoring of growing mussels, the Biolane^® manufacturer tests and monitors every batch as it is produced. Before Biolane^® is released for the market, the mussels and the end ingredient will both have passed through many controls, monitoring and testing stages. This testing is controlled and audited by private and government authorities to ensure a safe, natural product.

Back to top