Mussel Culture Farming Systems in the Northern Gargano Coast (Adriatic Sea): Changes in the Nutritional Profile of the <i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>
Antonella della Malva,
Antonella Santillo,
Matteo Francavilla,
Mariangela Caroprese,
Rosaria Marino,
Agostino Sevi,
Marzia Albenzio
Affiliations
Antonella della Malva
Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
Antonella Santillo
Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
Matteo Francavilla
Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
Mariangela Caroprese
Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
Rosaria Marino
Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
Agostino Sevi
Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
Marzia Albenzio
Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
The objective of this study was to investigate the nutritional characteristics of Mytilus galloprovincialis cultivated in three sites of the Northern Coastal Area of Gargano. The mussel farms were characterized by different distances of dropper ropes (extensive dropper ropes: EDR; intensive dropper ropes: IDR; semi-intensive dropper ropes: SIDR). Mussels’ chemical composition, fatty acids, and amino acids profiles were investigated at monthly intervals, from April to June. The fat content of mussels from EDR and SIDR sites was lower than values observed for mussels of the IDR in both the April and June sampling months. An increase in the main saturated fatty acids (C15:0; C16:0; C17:0 and C18:0; p p p p p p p p < 0.01). This study revealed that the farming system can affect the nutritional composition of mussels and evidenced that EDR and SIDR are the most effective cultured farming methods in the Gargano area.
