North Cork region’s economy depends on protecting river mussel

A multi-agency taskforce is to be set up to ensure the health of protected freshwater mussels, otherwise their demise could have a serious impact on future economic development in the North Cork region.

There could be up to 32,000 protected freshwater pearl mussels in the River Blackwater and ensuring their health, alongside future economic development, is not going to be easy, according to the Cork County Council’s senior planner.

Shockwaves reverberated around County Hall last December when it was announced that major housing and industrial developments along the Blackwater Valley were likely to be put on hold due to an EU directive aimed at protecting the freshwater pearl mussel.