An Assessment of the Cultivation Potential and Suitability for Human Consumption of Mediterranean Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819) from the Yalova Coast of the Marmara Sea

Abstract

This study aimed to determine into potential suitability of juvenile Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) for cultivation and human consumption collected from various stations (Kapaklı, Çınarcık, Koru, and Deveboynu) along the Yalova coast of the South Marmara Sea during the spring season. Specifically, meat yield, condition index, moisture content, density of fouling organisms on the shells, and heavy metal concentrations (copper, zinc, mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic) were analysed. The average meat yields for Çınarcık, Deveboynu, Kapaklı, and Koru were found to be 24.51±2.96, 21.72±3.92, 23.75±2.31, and 21.54±4.01, respectively. Similarly, the average condition index were found to be 7.29±1.16, 6.02±0.97, 7.30±0.77, and 5.94±1.39 for Çınarcık, Deveboynu, Kapaklı, and Koru, respectively. The average shell component index for Çınarcık, Deveboynu, Kapaklı, and Koru were detected that 72.06±2.75, 74.39±4.13, 69.99±2.55, and 74.68±4.54, respectively. Additionally, the average moisture contents were found to be 82.63±1.95, 83.34±3.23, 84.02±1.82, and 83.40±4.17 for Çınarcık, Deveboynu, Kapaklı, and Koru, respectively. The statistical analysis revealed significant differences (p<0.05) in these parameters among the stations. Moreover, the quantities of competitive and fouling organisms, such as polychaetes and barnacles, were found to be highest in the Deveboynu and Koru stations. It has been determined that copper, zinc, mercury, and lead levels of the mussels are suitable for human consumption in all stations. However, arsenic values exceeded legal limits in Çınarcık, Koru, and Deveboynu, and cadmium values exceeded legal limits in all stations.

Monthly variation of fatty acids, lipid quality index and metal content of Pontastacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823) in Atikhisar Dam Lake (Çanakkale, Türkiye)

“…Particularly, heavy metals such as arsenic (As), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and Cd, along with insecticides, industrial waste, and environmental pollutants, can reach wetlands and be transferred to humans through the food chain. These heavy metals, especially toxic elements like As, Pb, Hg, and Cd, are known to have adverse effects on human health (Yildiz et al 2023 ; Acarlı et al 2023 ). The ratio between Hg and selenium (Se) is especially crucial in terms of human health.…”

Gene Expression Analysis in Freshwater Mussels (Unio stevenianus) Collected from Pollutant-Associated Environment

“…Mussels are sessile animals. As they are organisms that obtain their food by filtering the water, they play a role in the filtration of organic matter, bacteria and plankton from the water body (Çetinkaya, 1996;Acarlı et al, 2023). Mussels face persistent and widespread anthropogenic pressures in their aquatic environment.…”