Since 2012 Devon and Severn IFCA has carried out stock assessments on the public mussel beds on the Exe Estuary, south Devon. These surveys determine the area of each bed, the density of mussels, the percentage cover, and the estimated stock (in tonnes), and marketable stock (mussels greater than 50mm in length) for each bed, and are used to assess the condition of the bed and whether the bed could support a viable mussel fishery. The surveys were annual between 2010â2020 and every 2 years since.
