Charru mussel is spreading quickly in the backwaters of Kerala, elbowing out other mussel and clam species and threatening the livelihoods of fishermen engaged in molluscan fisheries.
Charru mussel is spreading quickly in the backwaters of Kerala, elbowing out other mussel and clam species and threatening the livelihoods of fishermen engaged in molluscan fisheries.
The rapid spread of the Charru mussel may have been triggered by Cyclone Ockhi which struck the region in 2017.
What is Charru mussel?
Charru mussel (Mytella strigata) is an invasive mussel native to the South and Central American coasts.
Externally, the Charru mussel resembles the green and brown mussels (kallummekka in Malayalam), but is much smaller in size.
Its colour varies from black to brown, purple or dark green.
The short-necked clam fisheries in the lake had obtained an eco label from the Marine Stewardship Council and about 3,000 people are dependent on fisheries here.
In such a scenario, the fast-breeding Charru mussel could be seen as a ‘pest’.