At the 15th International Conference on Aquaculture, Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Hotel Lav, Vukovar, 2–4 April 2025, Bojan Hamer, PhD, presented recent research on the quality of mussels and hydrographic conditions in the Lim Bay (2008–2024) with a review of the most commonly used methods for calculating the condition index (CI, MYw, MYc and SI), analyzing the basic chemical and nutritional composition of mussel meat, and comparing the results of the condition index and basic chemical composition of the so-called Lim mussel with available relevant data from the literature for the Adriatic and the Mediterranean Sea. The purpose of the research conducted is to estimate the potential market value of mussels based on the condition index and nutritional composition as quality indicators in order to create a basis for the preparation of documentation necessary for initiating the procedure for obtaining the designation of origin - Lim mussel.

The above research was carried out as part of the ERA-NET BlueBio project funded by the Croatian Fisheries Research Council - "MuMiFaST-Mussel Mitigation Feeds and Supply System Technological Development / Mitigation of the impact of anthropogenic activities thanks to mussel farming and technological development of the animal feed supply system (2021-2024) and in cooperation with the Administrative Department for Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting, Fisheries and Water Management of the Istrian County.

The research results were published in the first journal about meat in Croatia in the article Hamer et al., (2025) - Quality indicators of farmed mussels: a study on the example of a farm in the Lim Bay, MESO, 27(1); 34-46.

The Aquaculture Conference is an important meeting of scientists, businessmen from the aquaculture sector, state administration and other stakeholders from the Republic of Croatia, the EU and neighboring countries, where mutual dialogue encourages better cooperation and synergy in solving challenges and creating better conditions for the development of the sector aquaculture. It is dedicated to the presentation of the current situation and the determination of important strategic, technological, economic and scientific knowledge and solutions necessary for the successful development of aquaculture, as well as the discussion of the challenges that this important economic sector faces in business.