Bælthaven cultivates blue mussels in Middelfart to promote sustainable seafood practices

In Middelfart, 200 households participate in Bælthaven, where they cultivate their own blue mussels. These mussels are enjoyed at communal meals and taken home, further raising awareness of marine food sources. Erik Yde, the chairman of Bælthaven, highlighted their impact, having distributed 3,700 kilograms of mussels to member families last year. He emphasized the joy these experiences bring, as families share fresh mussels with children, friends, and relatives.

Bælthaven’s mission includes educating the youth, engaging seniors, and promoting sustainable practices related to seafood. Yde expressed the happiness derived from gathering and sharing meals made from mussels, which have a carbon footprint comparable to that of apples.

Mussels are both cooked at the site and taken home, fostering communal dining. A marine garden can be established from various platforms, quay edges, or open-water longline systems. The process of starting a marine garden often involves learning from those who have already succeeded.

Bælthaven actively supports aspiring marine gardeners, visiting coastal towns like Kolding, Føns, Strib, and Horsens to share their four years of experience and inspire others. Henrik Sidelmann Christensen, production manager and vice chairman, noted that the ability to harvest thousands of kilograms of mussels is a significant privilege, and Bælthaven freely shares knowledge and mussel larvae with those interested.

To start a marine garden, one must maintain a maximum of 10 meters for hobby cultivation, which simply needs to be reported to the Fisheries Agency. A group must agree on bylaws, form a nonprofit organization, and then obtain approval from the relevant authorities.