Similarities and differences: wild and farmed green-lipped mussels
This activity explores the life cycle of green-lipped mussels and encourages students to research the methods by which they are farmed in New Zealand. It provides the opportunity to use a Venn diagram to organise information graphically.
Similarities and differences: wild and farmed green-lipped mussels – Venn diagram
Wild mussels only
Farmed mussels only
Both wild and farmed mussels
Unused items
- Can accumulate toxins
- Larvae settle onto seaweed
- Can contain pea crab parasites
- Live on ropes in the water
- Can live for many years
- Mature females have orange flesh
- Endemic to New Zealand
- May live on rocks and other mussels
- Feed on phytoplankton
- Previously fished by dredging
- Filter feeders
- Release eggs or sperm into the water
- Grow up to 24 cm long
- Seeded onto ropes using ‘mussock’
- Harvested after 18 months’ growth
- Some spat grown in hatcheries
- Harvested when about 10 cm long
- Spat may move from site to site
- Larvae are free-swimming
Similarities and differences: wild and farmed green-lipped mussels – Venn diagram
Use this interactive to illustrate the key similarities and differences between how wild and farmed green-lipped mussels live. Place each label where you think it belongs. This activity can be done individually, in pairs or as a whole class.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
describe the key similarities and differences between farmed and wild green-lipped mussels
understand how to use a Venn diagram to graphically organise information.
Download the Word file (see link below) for:
introduction/background notes
what you need
what to do
discussion points
extension ideas
student handout.
Related content
The following resources support learning about Aoteroa’s endemic green-lipped mussels and how they are farmed:
Life of a green-lipped mussel – article
How mussels are farmed in New Zealand – interactive
