Learning the ropes: a beginner's guide to mussel farming

Dr Judith Brown, director of the Isle of Skye Mussel Company, details the highs and lows of her journey to learn the skills needed to farm mussels on the west coast of Scotland.

With two crops of mussels now in the water, it’s a question of keeping ones boat and buoys afloat for another six months – which isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds.

Having been inspired to start mussel farming by studies showing many potential benefits of bivalve aquaculture, fledgling farmer Jude Brown has been heartened by the results of her own research.

In the second instalment of the series, novice mussel farmer Jude Brown, who's based on the Isle of Skye, goes on the trail of her first batch of seed stock.

Even before the first ropes are in the water setting your own mussel farming company can be quite an adventure, as Judith Brown, has discovered.