New conservation project to protect rare and endangered freshwater pearl mussels
One of the UK's rarest wildlife species is set to get extra help in one of its last
strongholds in north Devon.
Devon Wildlife Trust has recently launched a project to safeguard our freshwater
pearl mussels on the river Torridge. The river Torridge has the 4th largest
remaining population in England, but the mussels are threatened due to the poor
health of our watercourses.
This Biffa Award funded project, with the Freshwater Biological Association (FBA) as
the lead partner organisation, will be looking at methods to protect and enhance our
existing populations as well as offering support and advice to landowners and
communities for methods of reducing river pollution.
Gillian French, Biffa Award Programme Manager said "This project is an exciting
opportunity to save one of the most long-lived animals from extinction; the
freshwater pearl mussel can live for more than 100 years and is internationally
protected".
The project will run for three years and is part of a broader approach to improve
water quality and river health in north Devon.
Izzy Moser, the new Freshwater Pearl Mussel Officer said 'Thriving freshwater pearl
mussel populations are a good indicator of healthy watercourses. Healthy
watercourses are vital for providing clean drinking water, maintaining biodiversity,
supporting local fisheries and communities and meeting the new stringent standards
for bathing waters'
Freshwater pearl mussels are a long-lived species with a fascinating lifecycle, of
which part is spent attached to the gills of Atlantic salmon and brown trout. These
long-lived mussels were once numerous across Devon and much of the UK, however, they
are not thought to have bred successfully in the river Torridge since the 1960's and
as a result, are in serious decline.
A small amount of money is available for workshops, one to one advice and grants for
habitat improvement work or farm infrastructure enhancements. The overall aim of
these workshops and grants is to reduce the amount of sediments, nitrates and
phosphates entering the watercourse, therefore improving water quality.
The Devon Wildlife Trust project incorporates a range of partners including
Westcountry Rivers Trust, North Devon Biosphere Reserve and the Environment Agency.
Together, these teams will be working to monitor populations, enhance reproduction
and improve water quality.
Project officer Izzy Moser is now calling on landowners and farmers, particularly
those who farm along the main River Torridge to get in touch for advice on riparian
management and the potential for grant support.
If you would like to find out more, or are interested in getting involved, please
email Izzy at imoser@devonwildelifetrust.org
Freshwater pearl mussels on the
Torridge. Photo copyright Julian Payne(All rights reserved)
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