Mussel farming firm hopes for Fruitful Harvest as two new workboats arrive

THE UK’S largest mussel farming business has taken ownership of two new workboats.

Blueshell Mussels took delivery of the Fruitful Harvest and Fruitful Boughover the weekend, which will operate from the company’s sites around the isles.

The two new vessels have been planned by the company alongside leading naval architects Macduff Ship Design.

Blueshell Mussels director Lindsay Laurenson said they had “incorporated a number of new features and refinements to improve our processes wherever possible” with the two new boats.

He added they had “looked at every aspect of vessel operation” before ordering the vessels.

“We have a talented team at Blueshell Mussels – all pulling together to help us supply Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group with mussels – a cooperative owned by its members, the majority of whom are Shetland farmers like us,” Laurenson said.

“The cooperative has provided huge benefits to the mussel industry over the years and has enabled its members to build advanced facilities, capable of producing an extensive range of products.

“These have won multiple awards over the years, the latest being MSC UK Retail Supplier of the Year 2024.”