Freshwater pearl mussels are on the verge of extinction, and a new joint initiative between the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) aims to revitalise mussel populations through a pilot captive breeding programme based at the Marine Institute’s Newport Research Facility in Co Mayo.
Freshwater Pearl Mussel
Irish Pearl Mussel Project: List of Catchments
There are eight river catchments in the Irish Pearl Mussel Project. These catchments were selected due to their importance in supporting the largest remaining freshwater pearl mussel populations in Ireland and Western Europe.
European freshwater pearl mussel populations have declined by 90% over the past century. In Ireland, 27 freshwater pearl mussel populations are protected within Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Eight of these populations contain 80% of the total Irish freshwater pearl mussel population, and are known as the ‘Top 8 catchments’. While the ‘Top 8 catchments’ have some of the highest remaining numbers of freshwater pearl mussels in Ireland, these populations are also undergoing a slow decline, and face extinction unless action is taken.
A summary of each of the river catchments:
Blackwater River Catchment, Co. Kerry
Bundorragha River Catchment, Co. Mayo
Caragh River Catchment, Co. Kerry
Currane River Catchment, Co. Kerry
Dawros River Catchment, Co. Galway
Glaskeelan River Cathcment, Co. Donegal
Ownagappul River Catchment, Co. Cork
Owenriff River Catchment, Co. Galway
Biodiversity Ireland Map of all pearl mussel locations
https://maps.biodiversityireland.ie/Species/123483
Pearl Mussel Project (Latest Annual Report)
The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is a mussel species of clean rivers that is on the verge of extinction in Ireland and western Europe due to intensification of land use. The Pearl Mussel Project (PMP) is a locally led European Innovation Partnership (EIP) whereby local farmers, researchers, and advisors are working together to develop a programme to ensure long term coexistence of farming and freshwater pearl mussel in eight priority catchment areas in the west of Ireland.
A results based agri-environmental programme.
The programme will be an opportunity for farmers to be recognized and financially rewarded for delivering environmental benefits. Environmental targets will be set for individual farmers. They can then choose the most appropriate management to achieve that environmental target. Payments reflect the level of achievement based on a result that is measured in the field.