Mytella strigata
WHY IN NEWS ?
Recently, the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Fisheries Department and the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority to file a detailed report on the removal of invasive mussel species Mytella strigata from Ennore-Pulicat wetland.
.webp)
Details:
- Known as kakka aazhi among the fishermen, they say it is a South American mussel species that is spreading due to the discharge of ballast waters from ships visiting the ports of Kattupalli
- The problem mussel is Mytella strigata or Charru mussels.
- Native to South America, these mussels have invaded tidal wetlands in several parts of the world, including Vembanad in Kerala, by travelling across continents in the ballast waters of ships.
- This is the first time this invasive species has been found in the Eastern coast.
- The spread of this species is posing a threat to the locally found Yellow Clam (Manja Matti) and Green Mussels (Pachai Aaji).
- Recently, for the first time an ecological crisis has arisen due to the spread of this species in Pulicat and Ennore coasts.
Appearance:
- It can form dense clusters that colonise hard substrates or occupy epibenthic habitats, including other mussel species.
- It is usually present on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of tropical South and Central America.
- It has spread to Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, the Gulf of Thailand, west coast of India and the south-eastern United States.
- Threats: These mussels spread like a carpet over the river bottoms and thus prevent prawns from grazing or burying themselves in the sediment.
SOURCE – THE HINDU
