PEOPLE in the Isle of Man are being asked to share any information they have on the Manx freshwater pearl mussel.
The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture is asking for "anecdotal" information on the mussel which is one of the longest living invertebrates, capable of living for more than 200 years.
Freshwater pearl mussels were once common in fast flowing, nutrient poor rivers throughout Europe and the North American Atlantic seaboard.
However due to a combination of pollution, habitat degradation and over harvesting for pearls they are now the most endangered freshwater bivalve molluscs in the world.
Records show that the mussels were once in existence in the Island in the River Dhoo.
Writing in the Naturalist in 1865, about a previous visit to the Isle of Man, John Dixon stated: "I met an old gentleman who…procured me some fine living specimens…This was Mr Oates, of Kirk Braddan, through whose farm the Dhoo runs."
Ancient manuscripts from Castle Rushen also report an attempt in 1696 to bribe the Governor of the Island with pearls from the river.
The Manx Museum possesses one shell of a Manx freshwater pearl mussel which was donated in 1941 by J R Drinkwater of Kirby but there are no records of when the donor found it or whether they had found it alive or dead.
There have been no records of live specimens being found since the 19th century and as such the Manx freshwater pearl mussel has been presumed extinct in the Island since the early 20th century.
Karen Galtress, river management project officer for the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: "I'd be grateful to hear from anyone who may have further knowledge of these very special animals in Manx watercourses.
"For instance you might recall ancestors talking about them or even have shells at home.
"However please don't go out looking for them. As well as the obvious health and safety issues they're extremely difficult to find without training and you could accidentally damage any that might remain."
Small remnant populations of pearl mussels have been discovered in recent year in UK rivers where they were thought to have been extinct and, due to the longevity and robustness of mature adults, there is a possibility that some still exist in the Isle of Man.
In the summer staff from the fisheries department will check likely locations around the Isle of Man for freshwater pearl mussels and research the potential for captive breeding and/or reintroduction of this species.
This follows a visit to the Freshwater Pearl Mussel Art Project at the Freshwater Biological Association's headquarters at Windermere in Cumbria where the staff were taught by Dr Roger Sweeting.
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