Falklands Fresh Ltd is the company that quietly and unobtrusively farms, harvests, prepares and exports these quality products. Fresh mullet and crab have been available for so long that we take them for granted, not being aware of the work that goes into the preparation or the fact that they are available all year round - working in and around our freezing cold waters throughout the winter months has to be less than comfortable. Mussels are the latest product to grace the shelves and it was the notion of farming and harvesting this familiar bi-valve so plentiful around our shores that prompted me to join the Falklands Fresh team on a mussel harvesting expedition. But, before the mussels can be harvested they have to be grown; water currents, tides, exposure, wind directions, water quality, food availability, water temperature, pH, oxygen and salinity have to be considered. The close vicinity of natural mussel beds is a must and a site where the natural settlement of mussel spat will take place is also essential.
Manager of Falklands Fresh Simon Hardcastle has spent many years studying aquaculture and has been instrumental in trialing many projects over the years. After completing his O and A levels Simon studied Fisheries Management at Sparsholt, the Hampshire College of Agriculture near Winchester. He also attended Stirling University, studying fish nutrition and making salmon feed diets out of krill and mullet from the Falklands.