Eastern Bay of Plenty locals will be some the first to enjoy this year's first harvest of Whakatohea mussels.

Five tonne of the beloved Whakatohea mussels have been distributed across local Whakatane and Opotiki stores today.

Whakatohea Mussels Opotiki, general manager Peter Vitasovich says the harvest will first go to the local communities.

'These mussels will be first sold in the Whakatane and Opotiki area, and tomorrow we'll be doing another harvest and they'll be going out nationwide.”

'We felt it was prudent to do this first harvest, we've had great local support from the Whakatane and Opotiki communities and we felt that they should try them first – so that's happening today.”

He says the harvesting season should continue for the next 5 or 6 weeks.