As part of the Mussel Forecast project — funded by Ve-GAL through the “FARI” Local Action Plan implementing the EMFAF 2021-27 programme (INITIATIVE CODE 7699/VE/25) — Bluefarm is working with the “Italvivai” mussel farm to develop models for adapting mussel farming to climate change. The first analyses of data acquired from the “Copernicus Marine Service” portal and recorded in situ at the mussel farm off the island of Pellestrina confirm the marked anomalies characterising the evolution of sea temperature in 2026. The chart compares the average monthly surface temperatures estimated from satellite data for 2026 with those calculated over the entire 1987-2025 period: the grey band represents an estimate of the variability of the monthly mean values across that period. The temperatures observed in 2026 sit systematically above the grey band, with a deviation of almost +2.5 °C in June. The first data recorded in situ in the second half of July show surface values of around 28 °C, dropping by about 1.0 °C at a depth of 8 metres. So far the mussels appear to be withstanding the thermal stress — but how long will they hold out?