Did you know that mussels are one of the oldest species found on the earth today? In fact, evidence of their existence dates back to the very beginning of time.

Cultured mussels have been around for nearly 900 years, since the 12th century. A ship-wrecked sailor off the coast of France placed poles with netting in the water to catch fish. When he checked the nets, he noticed that mussels had attached themselves to the poles. This has become known today as the Bouchot method.

In North America, wild mussels have been harvested since the early 1900s. Suspended cultivation of blue mussels began in the 1970s in Seattle, Washington and soon after in Atlantic Canada.

The global industry now produces more than 4 billion pounds (2 million tonnes) a year and employs 1.5 million people.

Find out more about how mussels are grown and harvested.