A boost for endangered mussels

A SURE sign of a healthy river is the presence of the freshwater mussel which has largely disappeared in Ireland in recent decades.

The reasons for its demise are obvious – the species survives only in pristine water.

Believed to be one of our longest living animals, with a lifespan of up to 120 years, it was once widespread, but is now found in very few catchments. Ireland is estimated to hold around 46% of Europe’s freshwater mussel population, with the Munster Blackwater catchment said to have a large part of the national population.