Habitat
Lives in intertidal waters amongst rocks and seaweed to depths up to 20 metres. They often form dense clumps on sandy substrates, or attach by their ‘beards’ to reefs, rock, and jetties.
Fishing information
Widespread around Tasmania and often collected from the shore or by divers. Used as bait by some recreational fishers.
Public Health advice
Follow any public health alerts relating to eating wild shellfish - refer to the Department of Health and Human Services or phone their hotline on 1800 671 738.
Cooking
Mussels are tender and juicy with a distinctive flavour when cooked correctly. They have low oil content. Suitable to barbeque, grill, marinate, pickle, smoke, steam or use in soup.The eating quality of wild mussels is better when the mussel is in spawning condition.
Recipe: Mussels with White Wine and Cream
Recipe courtesy Spring Bay Seafoods.
1kg mussels; 15g butter; ½ red onion diced; 1 clove garlic chopped; freshly ground pepper; sprig of thyme; bay leaf; 100ml white wine; 150ml cream; ¼ cup parsley.
Heat heavy based pot with lid over low heat, add butter, when melted add onion, garlic and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes until onion is soft. Increase heat to high, add thyme, bay leaf, cream and wine and cook for 3-4 minutes until liquid has reduced by 1/3. Add mussels to mixture, stir and put on lid. Cook for 3 minutes until mussels open. Sprinkle over parsley and serve with cooking liquids.