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Alien Species - Introduction
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE WESTERN REGIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST ZEBRA MUSSELS
HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF ZEBRA MUSSELS
Zebra mussels enter new areas when they are attached to objects such as boat hulls and fishing equipment.
What are zebra mussels? The zebra mussel is a prolific exotic species that poses a significant threat to the lakes and rivers of the western river basin district. The mussel was introduced to Ireland approximately 10 years ago and spread through the Shannon system by boat traffic. Zebra mussels are freshwater bivalve molluscs that are native to the lakes, slow-moving rivers and low salinity areas of the Caspian and Black Sea region. The zebra mussel shell usually has a striped dark and pale colouration and at the adult stage they are only thumbnail size.
What you can do: If you own a boat : • Dry out boats for 3 – 4 weeks. Zebra mussels (adults and larvae) will eventually die once removed from water. Ideally, store boats in dry conditions where mussels can dry out.
• Scrape down and steam clean your boat following removal from water . High pressure steam cleaning will remove the majority of the mussels and kill the remainder. The temperature needs to exceed 40°C. Steam cleaning facilities are available at most filling stations for a small fee however; it should be ensured that the wastewater from the steam cleaning facility does not drain back into an uninfected waterway.
• Clean outboard motors. Flushing removes cooling water that may contain larvae. Attached individuals can be removed manually. Storing outboard engines will drain much of the water, then leave to dry for at least 3 weeks. Heavily fouled motors should be serviced.
• If you buy a second hand boat have it cleaned.
Anglers:
• Equipment: • Dry out all equipment or immerse in hot water before use in a different water body. • Ensure keep nets or landing nets do not have zebra mussels attached. • Bait: • Do not dump live bait taken from infested waterways into a zebra mussel free area. • Do not re-use bait if it has been exposed to infested waters. • Do not use zebra mussels as bait in uninfected waters. • Water : • Do not transfer water from an infected lake to a zebra mussel free lake.
Problems associated with zebra mussels:
Biofouling costs money Zebra mussels can have a serious economic effect at facilities that depend on water intake by blocking pipes. They will attach to any hard surface in the waters in which they occur, quickly spreading and covering the surface. Preferred surfaces include stone, wood, concrete, iron/steel, aluminium, plastics and fiberglass. As a result, boats and water treatment plants can be damaged.
Irreversible changes to ecology Zebra mussels can filter as much as 1 litre of water per day through their gills. They remove phytoplankton, small zooplankton and bacteria amongst other things. As a result of this activity, the food web of their new habitat is changed. Studies have shown that this leads to reductions in different populations of fish. Zebra mussels attach onto the shells of swan mussels ( Anodonta sp.), preventing them from feeding, resulting in death of the swan mussels.
Campaign to stop the spread of the zebra mussel An active campaign to keep Lough Corrib and other western lakes free from zebra mussels is being implemented. Now in its second year, The Western Region Zebra Mussel Control Initiative has members from angling and boating organisations, local authorities, state bodies and interested persons.
Funding The campaign is being funded by The Heritage Council, with contributions from the North Western Regional Fisheries Board, the Western Regional Fisheries Board, National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and local authorities including Galway City Council, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo , Leitrim and Galway County Councils.
Media & advertising An initial education campaign took place in 2004. Posters and brochures were produced and distributed to relevant groups. These brochures and posters will be circulated to B+Bs, hotels, and other related businesses to increase awareness amongst boat-owners and anglers in particular.
A media campaign was also undertaken which included television interviews, newspaper articles and newspaper notices. Presentations were given at several meetings and conferences. The Zebra Mussel Education Officer will be travelling to angling and boating events to provide information on the zebra mussel. The media campaign will focus on local media in both infected and uninfected areas of the western and Shannon regions.
Warning signs Warning signs have been erected at launching sites around many lakes, including L. Corrib, L. Mask, L. Carra and L. Conn.
Education and children Schools have been visited to spread awareness amongst school children. Under the Fionn Science project, with funding from The Heritage Council, a DVD on water pollution and zebra mussels has been produced by Scoil an Clochar, Oughterard, Co. Galway . The DVDs are currently being copied so they can be distributed to other primary schools and interested people.
