Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A MULTITUDE OF state agencies have been meeting over the last few months to decide what to do about an Asian Clam infestation in what’s known as the ‘hot water’ stretch of the River Shannon at Lanesborough in Longford.
The stretch was closed to anglers earlier this year as the presence of the tiny species was investigated.
It re-opened once again on 6 November under strict new biosecurity conditions: any anglers fishing in the area are being told to disinfect their equipment and waders when leaving the area.
Listed in the ‘Most Unwanted’ section of a list compiled by Invasive Species Ireland, the high-density Asian Clam (Corbicula Fluminea) competes fiercely with other species in the environment for food and space. It also poses a danger to water-based industries like hydro-electic power stations.
The species was first detected in Ireland in 2010 in the River Barrow…
Inland Fisheries Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Office of Public Works, Roscommon County Council, Longford County Council, Bord na Mona, the ESB and Waterways Ireland are carrying out a multi-agency response to the infestation, Minister of State Joe McHugh said last week in an answer to a parliamentary question.
“A detailed scientific assessment of the nature and extent of the infestation has been completed and based on this assessment the Agency Group agreed a dredging operation of the “hot water” stretch,” McHugh said.
A trial dredging operation is due to take place on the river, before any larger-scale process takes place. There are, however, a few speed-bumps to be smoothed before the operation goes ahead — like deciding how to dispose of the dredged material.
“Waterways Ireland has indicated its preparedness to carry out the trial dredge operation with the support of the Agency Group once the disposal requirements are determined by EPA,” the Minister said, adding…
“The possible onset of deteriorating weather and water conditions is a concern for all agencies but they are confident that the trial dredge will proceed shortly.”
Given the invasive nature of the Asian Clam, however, “once in a water body it is likely that operations will be focused on managing the infestation rather than eradication”.
According to Invasive Species Ireland — an all-island organisation that comes under the remit of the National Parks and Wildlife Service south of the border — Asian Clams “could have been introduced to Ireland in boat bilge water, as live bait or as a result of escapes from the aquarium trade”.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
“Bureaucracy is the art of making the possible impossible.”
Javier Pascal Salcedo.
Here’s an interesting link that describes the process of eradicating this species.
Thanks Coles. I find it fascinating the different ways invasive species can be removed. The Zebra Mussel has also wreaked havoc on our aquatic ecosystem and threatens indigenous species. When these new species are introduced, our native species have no evolutionary defense against them and they can take over in a short space of time. Another example would be the Varroa mite, destroying our wild bee population, which we avoided until the 90′s. I really hope that we can do everything we can to protect native species, but in an increasingly globalised world, I wonder if this is possible long-term.
Can’t we sell them back to the Asians?
This could be clamitous.
Is the Asian clam related to the elusive bearded clam?
Now if everyone could please keep clam.
No doubt some lunatic will be on shortly to say this is an example of what happens when you allow uncontrolled immigration….
Turn them into projectiles to take out those damn grey squirrels
Dredging: always the first choice “seen to be doing something” solution. This won’t work and will only cause local ecological damage. These clams are here to stay unfortunately.
Anyone think Japan’s nuclear reactor leaking radiation might have some thing to do with the influx?
Absolutely not.
Plenty of reasons to worry about what has happened at Fukushima (particularly the explosion of Reactor 3, the fuel pool fire at Reactor 4, and the probable melt-through at Reactor 2), but this isn’t one of the,
News from Fukushima is about to completely disappear as the State Secrets Act in Japan bans all reporting of it.
@Peter: At least you asked a question as opposed to stating “It’s that nuclear reactor! It’s the real life Godzilla!”
Our environment and agriculture ministries needed to have strict measures in place to limit invasive species and diseases many years ago and still don’t have anything proper. If Australia and new Zealand can do it, surely we can too (as an island) The fact that trees and other flora can still be imported here without proper quarantine is a joke. On 12th October 2012, Ireland’s first case of Chalara fraxinea infection was found in a young forestry plantation in County Leitrim which had been planted with imported trees. Yet still trees are imported with no change to regulation..
Another example of economics over environment
More than likely ships ballast than ships bilge water.
Something new to go with the definitely here to stay Zebra mussels which invaded from Britain years ago and are still spreading, http://theirishgazette.com/zebra-mussels-invade-ireland-lakes-and-rivers/
A foreign species is taking over from the native species without one drop of blood being spilled, this is accurately described as invasion. And yet the foreign clams do not directly attack or eat the native ‘clams’, but the results of this foreign influx are the same for what we normally call – an invasion.
“It can reproduce and spread, and out-compete native species “, “the Asian Clam an “aggressive alien invasive species”
We know this happens to other native species – red squirrel out-competed by grey squirrels, native fauna being overtaken by rhodedendron. Not a drop of blood spilled but an attack resulting in physical domination by one species over another, resulting in dominance of territory and resources by a foreign species over the native species. With what other native species does this type of long term stealth take-over take occur?
have your say