Lanshan district in Rizhao, Shandong province has entered the busiest season for harvesting fresh mussels.

Mussels offer a delicious, easy, relatively affordable way to enjoy shellfish. Lanshan district, with its unique marine geology, is the largest area for mussel cultivation in China.

Along with the increasing scale of mussel breeding in Lanshan, it has also created favorable conditions for the development of seafood processing, storage, sales and other related industries, generating income for local fishermen.

Shellfish aquaculture is the traditional aquaculture industry in Lanshan, with an output of about 20,000 tons and accounting for 70 percent of the national market share, with its output reaching 300 million yuan ($47.19 million).

Fishermen clean freshly-harvested mussels at Lanshan fishing port. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Fishermen unload mussels from fishing vessels at Lanshan fishing port. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Mussels are an excellent source of protein, containing all essential amino acids. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Fishermen clean mussels at Lanshan fishing port. [Photo/Dazhong News]