Often overlooked, this humble mollusc is an unsung hero in the fight against habitat loss and ocean pollution. From cleaning up seawater, to engineering new seabed habitats, mussels are a crucial species in our marine ecosystem.

Blue mussels are bivalves, the two sides of their shell able to open and clamp shut. When their shells are open, mussels act as water purifiers. They are filter feeders, drawing water into their bodies which passes over their gills, trapping any food particles. Mussels take in large amounts of water in this way, removing suspended particles and pollutants in the sea. A single mussel can filter dozens of litres of water a day! This increases water clarity and recycles nutrients, helping to maintain the health of underwater habitats. This also means that mussels can be used as an indicator of water quality by testing for the presence of pollutants in their tissues.

Blue mussels form dense beds on the seabed. They are therefore ecosystem engineers – creating 3D structures for seaweeds like kelp to attach to and grow. This also stabilises the sediment, making a more viable habitat for other marine life to flourish.

Following the local ban on bottom trawling, this vital species is now starting to recover. Over the last 5 years, the Sussex Underwater team has observed the growth of healthy mussel beds once again, stretching along the seabed from Lancing to Brighton. This is indicative of further marine recovery, as so many other species utilise the habitats created by blue mussels. They are an important food source for starfish, flatfish, crabs and dog whelks, and when uncovered at low tide, seabirds such as oystercatchers eat the mussels. Our hope is that as these mussel beds continue to grow, kelp will be able to re-establish on the seabed, and diverse marine life will flourish as a result.

So, next time you head to your local rocky shore, keep your eyes peeled for the familiar grey-blue shells of mussels and give them a little thank you for all they do to help maintain the health of our seas and wildlife!

by Ruby Stothard, Sussex Underwater Youth Ambassador

More news from the blue…

Alice Clark, member of the SKRP research team, is awarded her PhD

Alice Clark (or rather Dr Alice Clark!) has passed her PhD defence. With the support of the University of Sussex, Alice has spent years researching the impact of the trawling exclusion zone in Sussex using eDNA and video monitoring in our marine waters.

We can’t wait for Alice’s work to be published so that we can share her results with you.

Congratulations and thank you Dr Clark, we wish you all the best wherever your career next takes you… we hope still beneath the waves!

An honorary doctorate in science for one of Sussex’s underwater champions

Eric Smith, freediver, founder of Sussex Underwater and a key advocate for the removal of bottom trawling along our Sussex coastline and the protection of our marine ecosystems, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Sussex.

Eric was one of many graduates celebrated by the University of Sussex last week, where he gave a very emotional speech earning him a standing ovation from the audience (and likely accompanied by a few tears of joy).

A HUGE thank you from us all at SKRP for the work you do Eric. You shine a bright light beneath the waves onto our wonderful underwater world.

Underwater bakes brought to the surface

Have you made any sea-themed bakes? Been inspired to create a kelpy cake? A benthic bun? A ray roulade?

Send us a photo of your marine masterpieces, and we will share your sea-treats on our Instagram stories. Email pictures to [email protected] or DM us via our Instagram.

And here’s one we made earlier…