Rope-grown mussels

In and around Loch Fyne is a hive of fishing industry, and a trip out on the barge-like, open-decked mussel boat is something of an experience. We rarely get to see mussels fresh out of the water, as they’re normally bought live in net or plastic bags from our local fishmongers, usually ready-scrubbed, debearded and all set to drop straight into the pot.

On a chilly October morning, we ventured out on the Loch in a small boat with an outboard motor. We soon moored up alongside one of the many rows of mussel rope buoys and climbed aboard the mussel boat to check out how the mussels were developing on the ropes beneath the surface.