Freshwater mussels return to River Kent after decades of absence
Nearly two thousand young freshwater pearl mussels have been released into England's River Kent to help this endangered species recover.
These vital animals filter water and support other aquatic life while serving as an important indicator of overall river health conditions. They are among the world's longest living invertebrates capable of surviving well past one hundred years.
Populations have dropped by over 90% during the last hundred years because of pollution and habitat damage affecting survival rates. Young mussels are especially fragile since many living groups contain mostly old adults with very few young ones.
The Freshwater Biological Association has worked for nearly two decades to turn the tide for this species through their dedicated recovery centre. They breed mussels from threatened groups, raising fragile babies in controlled settings before returning them to native rivers.
The first major releases began in 2025 with almost two thousand mussels released by the summer of 2026 into restored stretches. Ongoing monitoring suggests fish populations are in good condition which remains essential for the recovering population of mussels to thrive long term.
“We're seeing these releases make a real difference, which is fantastic.”