Can you harvest mussels in RI? Here's why it's not common.

There's an apparent disconnect when it comes to mussels in Rhode Island.

They're found on the menu of just about every fine restaurant. But hardly anyone harvests them from Narragansett Bay.

It's not because the mussels here aren't edible, despite what some people think.

It's because we have the "wrong" kind.

There are two main types of mussels found along the New England coast — blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis ) and ribbed mussels ( Geukensia demissa .) The latter is much more prevalent in Rhode Island, and also considered less desirable to eat.

Blue mussels: Tasty but rare

Blue mussels – often from Prince Edward Island in Canada, or Maine – are what you’ll find sold in seafood markets and served in restaurants. Despite their name, their shells tend to be brown or black.

There are some blue mussel beds found in deeper portions of Narragansett Bay, as well as some aquaculture operations that farm their own, said David Borkman, the environmental scientist who oversees the Department of Environmental Management's Shellfish Water Quality Program.

But the bivalves have a hard time surviving in the shallow coastal areas where recreational foragers are most likely to go.

Blue mussels like colder water and “start to struggle and even die at water temperatures near 80F,” Borkman wrote. “Much of the Bay, especially shallow areas where people might harvest from shore, hits 80F during the summer months.”

Another factor: Seabirds and crabs prey on juvenile blue mussels, which could be reducing their numbers. There’s some evidence that invasive green crabs may be contributing to the decline in blue mussels throughout the Northeast, Borkman said.

“Lots of organisms, besides people, like to eat blue mussels,” he wrote.

Ribbed mussels: Abundant but less desirable

Ribbed mussels , by contrast, are extremely easy to find in marshy areas.

They’re technically edible, Borkman said, but “generally avoided as food by most people.”

As you might guess from the name, ribbed mussels are distinguished by their ribbed shells. They also grow higher up in the the intertidal zone, which means they spend more time closed up and less time filter-feeding seawater, Borkman explained.

As a result, they have a muddy, metallic taste and tough, rubbery texture when cooked, Borkman said.

“I tried eating steamed ribbed mussels once (keyword = once) and they did not have the mild flavor found in blue mussels,” he wrote. “The ribbed mussels have much lower food quality (to humans) than blue mussels.”

For what it’s worth, though, not everyone agrees with that assessment: Friends of this reporter recently made pasta with ribbed mussels and reported that it was delicious (and no one got sick afterward.)

How to safely harvest mussels in Rhode Island

The DEM is responsible for determining which waters are safe for shellfishing.

Approved areas are almost always open unless there’s an emergency – a spill or a hurricane, for instance, Borkman said. Conditional areas close after rainstorms due to bacterial pollution. And prohibited areas are always off-limits.

That guidance applies to all filter-feeding shellfish, Borkman said. In other words, you can harvest mussels anywhere you can harvest clams.

The DEM maintains an online map that will show you which areas are open and closed at any given time. You can also sign up to get email alerts about emergency closures and updates on the status of conditional areas, or call the agency’s hotline at 401-222-2900 to find out if conditional areas are open or closed.

Daily catch and size limits for mussels in Rhode Island

Rhode Island residents who recreationally forage for blue mussels can harvest up to half a bushel per day, unless they’re in a shellfish management area, in which case the limit is reduced to one peck per day.

There is no requirement for the mussels to be a certain size.

State regulations don’t address ribbed mussels.

Where to find mussels

If you're looking for blue mussels, you're most likely to find them attached to rocks, jetties and pilings along the coast. Gathering them typically involves wading out with a bucket and prying them loose.

Ribbed mussels are also commonly found growing in muddy embankments of marsh grass. Foragers typically recommend gathering them only at high tide, and choosing the mussels that have spent the most time under water. Leaving them in a bucket of seawater for a day may help to filter out some of the mud.

What about freshwater mussels?

Eight different types of freshwater mussels have been identified in Rhode Island's freshwater rivers and ponds, according to a fact sheet from the University of Rhode Island.

However, freshwater mussels are not considered as tasty as saltwater mussels. Contaminants and pollutants in the water can also make them unsafe to eat.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Can you harvest mussels in RI? Here's why it's not common.