The Mussel Pot has been
placed to encourage you to try collecting (and eating!) Brown
Mussels (perna perna), a fun seaside activity. To
collect mussels, a permit is required (R70-00pa in 2006), which
allows the gathering of 30 mussels per day.
Contact
KZN Marine
Invertebrates
Private Bag X15
Congella
4013
Fax: 031 205-5672
The cache is located near a
great spot for mussels, which can only be collected at Low Spring Tide (see chart - scroll down
to Tide Calendars), This occurs at about 9h30 to
10h00 twice per month near Full Moon & New Moon (see tide tables). Looking out to sea from
the cache site, the mussel rocks are alongside the right hand
side of the gully just to the north of a direct line out
to sea. Take a screwdriver and bucket with you (and your
licence - the Parkies are active!). Wear a good pair of
non-slip shoes. The chances are you will get wet, as the
occasional wave washes over the rocks. Be careful! Once you have
collected your mussels, scrape the shells clean with a sturdy
knife.
When you get home, soak the mussels in water for half an
hour (gets rid of any trapped sand). Place about 1cm of water into
a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Tip the mussels into the
pot, place a lid on the pot and steam for about 3 minutes (until
shells open). Allow to cool, and open shells. Remove the "baardjie"
(little beard - the fibrous material that holds the mussel to the
rock) and the mussels are ready for eating. Use the juice in the
pot to make sauces (see
recipes). White flesh are male, orange are female. For
snorkellers, there are lovely enclosed rock pools close by,
suitable for adults & kids. There are plenty brightly coloured
juvenile marine fish in the pool between the cache site & the
mussel beds. For the budding geologists, the juxtaposition of the
light grey and black rocks is interesting. Anyone want to post a
note on the geology of the beach?
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