Queenscliff Shellfish Hatchery

Victoria is one of the largest mussel producers in Australia. The industry achieved a peak production of approximately 1,600 tonnes in 2002 and a value of $3.7 million.

Just as farmers on land depend on a good season of rain to increase their production, mussel farmers are heavily reliant on a good spawning season of wild mussels to stock their catching ropes for on-growing of mussels to market size. Unfortunately, recent reductions in wild mussel spat (juveniles) has limited the mussel industry's ability to grow.

Recent figures show that mussel production has declined to under 1,000 tonnes with a value of $1.8 million, principally as a result of poor wild mussel spat fall.