Swan Mussels.

[davidP]

YSA:

The Swan Mussel became a protected species in 1991, so you shouldn't be taking them, in fact I think it will be probably be illegal to even handle them.

 

Cheers

 

SteVe

Sorry Steve, but I don't believe they are. This question came up in September last year (here) and I mailed someone at the Joint Nature Conservation Committee asking this specific question. The answer came back as follows:

 

Dear Mr Priddy

 

The swan mussel is not a protected species in the UK. It is thinly distributed in England, Wales and southern Scotland, and is considered to be local. Like other long lived species of slow moving rivers, canals, lakes and larger ponds with a muddy substrate it is vulnerable to dramatic changes of habitat.

The most significant threat to unionids in Britain is poor river management. Dredging occurs approximately every 10 years and can remove 20% of the unionid population. Sometimes an entire population can be lost. Weed cutting happens yearly and removes 2-5% of the population.

Mussels are found at greatest densities in the marginal zones of rivers. Therefore, the impacts of river management on mussels can be reduced greatly

while retaining the management function by leaving marginal zones of the river bed unmanaged.

The other threat of course is from pollution.

 

Sincerely

 

Deborah Procter

 

Species Advisor dealing with invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles

JNCC, Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough, PE1 1JY, UK

 

[ 13. March 2003, 09:43 PM: Message edited by: davidP ]

[chesters1]

that settles that then ,who`s for a mussel stew my local pond is full of them (single maggot on an 18)

[YSA]

You're right it's Margaritifera margaritifera Fresh Water Musselthats protected not Anodonta cygnea Swan Mussel. I mis-read the info I was given. Sorry

 

Cheers

 

SteVe

[Guest Ferret1959]

So what is the differance between Margaritifera margaritifera and Anodonta cygnea??

[YSA]

Margaritifera margaritifera is the one that produces feshwater pearls, Anodonta cygnea is yer common or garden Tench bait.

 

Cheers

 

SteVe

[Guest Ferret1959]

Ah so that's why the Margaritifera margaritifera are protected.

To stop the get rich quick ideas.

[Ed Matysiak]

I remember standing in the river as a child cracking open swan mussles after pearls. Now i know why i never found any!

[Guest Ferret1959]

I can't see what the interest in a bit of grit is any how.

[RUDD]

I think it is illegal to take swan mussles from one water and put or use them in another as there is the risk of tranferring disease.

Swan mussels filter the water they live in to get there food.

If you are going to use them as bait make sure you cut the mussle with a sharp knife or you can do yourself seroius damage.

[Ed Matysiak]

quote:

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make sure you cut the mussle with a sharp knife or you can do yourself seroius damage.

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I second that! When the shells are broken they are sharp as hell and will cut your hands to bits!