Release of freshwater pearl mussels into the Malše River

On Tuesday, July 18, another part of freshwater pearl mussels, which were reared as part of the Interreg Malšemuschel project, was released into the Malše River on the Czech-Austrian border. This year, we released 216 young individuals into two different selected microhabitats in places where the Malše forms a border stream. The entire team of researchers and project partners participated in the pre-selection of discharge locations; subsequently, the landing site will be further monitored. Next year, we are going to release the last part of the juvenile freshwater pearl mussels as part of the sustainability of the project and thus contribute to the restoration of the over-aged population in the Malše River.

The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) can live up to 140 years in suitable conditions. Thanks to this, some of its populations have been preserved until today, although the reproduction of this critically endangered bivalve has been a problem for several decades. Semi-natural rearing will help tiny pearl oysters overcome the most critical years of their lives, and at the same time it is important to maintain an appropriate environment for them – clean trout waters with careful management in the given basin. We addressed this issue in the project, which you can learn more about here.

The Czech Republic has announced and is implementing the Rescue Program for freshwater pearl mussels, because the survival of freshwater pearl mussel as an umbrella species enables the survival and good condition of a number of other animal species that are bound to these waters.