Mortality varied from 2 to 7% throughout the different stages of
the supply chain (Fig. 2A). At the pre-transport stage mortality was
low (3% after grading; 2% after 48 h depuration). Non-depurated mussels
had approximately 3 times the mortality rate (6%) compared to
depurated counterparts, although this was not statistically significant.
Depuration or transport conditions did not affect post-transport mortality
(ca. 4% for all treatments). However at the post-rewatering stage,
mussels in the non-depurated, ambient treatment did increase mortality
compared to the other treatments (ca. 7% compared to 1–3%). This
was significantly higher than mussel mortality in the depurated, iced
treatment