Mussels and metal

[Roberto]

Is there any special affinity between mussels and metal ?

I lifted my boat yesterday and oh surprise all metal parts (or areas surronding metal parts) were infested with bunches of mussels, while the rest of the hull was rather clean, only some green slime

The cast iron keel was covered, the engine raw water metal through hull was infested, propeller shaft and bracket too, (propeller itself rather clean thanks to lanoline), the area around the rudder shaft was musselised too

any explanation ?



all the underwater had been painted with the same antifouling, and it sticked quite well there is no sign of rust anywhere, definitely have the impression the mussels can "feel" the metal hidden under the paint
?

 

[riojasailer]

Since there's an "R" in the month why worry? Just eat. Conwy mussels are fantastic - how are Locmiquelic ones?

 

[tcm]

not sure that it is cos it is metal - from my own exp it is that metal parts whether painted or not are earthed and copper oxides (present in lots of paint) cannot form which would deter crustaceans. If there is copper oxide inthe surface (as with many hulls ) or simply no copper oxide at all (as in groynes at the seaside)_ then mussels can breed and grow.

 

[Roberto]

indeed that made me wonder where all the "moules frites" I ate were coming from -.<)

 

[seaesta]

Wow - you would eat stuff grown on a toxic (antifoul) surface! You must have more faith than me or a deathwish!

 

[Roberto]

thanks tcm


/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[chippie]

Seaesta, if it were still poisonous, the mussels wouldnt be there.

 

[BrendanS]

shell fish in general are used as an indicator to sea water conditions. They accumulate things like heavy metal poisons. So any shell fish growing near high concentrations of antifoul would not be a great idea to eat

 

[Roberto]

I once witnessed a funny experiment: a couple of oysters were put in a bucket full of very dirty water, almost like sewage (I don t remember though if there were hydrocarbons too, but anyway): the following day the water was a lot clearer, two days later almost cristalline.. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Metabarca]

[ QUOTE ]
I once witnessed a funny experiment: a couple of oysters were put in a bucket full of very dirty water, almost like sewage (I don t remember though if there were hydrocarbons too, but anyway): the following day the water was a lot clearer, two days later almost cristalline.. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Typical British cuisine: oysters + sauce pre-packed! Just open an eat! A spicy treat for the busy gourmet!


p.s. Mi son fatto un piatto di 'pedoci' e vongole con una salsetta che cantava tutte le glorie ieri sera! Yum!

 

[Swagman]

Baby mussels (think they are called 'spats' of something similar - looking like tiny white shimps) drift around looking for anything to secure a hold on - before they can start to develop a shell and grow.

Mussel farm using long line methods use 'hairy rope' just to attract the little thingies.

So would suggest your boat in an area where the natural mussles exist to 'breed' spats - and the metal underwater bits were just a better surface for them to grab hold of than your adjacent hull surfaces?

Mussles are also around 95% protein and 5% ash, so they just love the contaminated but protein rich waters found on sewage outfalls etc. Such mussels could well be toxic if eaten immediately they were harvested, but most farmers will allow them to self clean by dumping them into clean aerated water for at least a few days prior to sale.

Not sure if PCB type toxins can be removed this way - but would suggest not.

Cheers

JOHN