Captive Rearing of Afon Irfon & Dee Freshwater Pearl Mussels 26-27

Rearing juvenile pearl mussels is a difficult and highly specialist activity that requires a combination of technical expertise, attention to detail, and excellent water quality. It is not carried out commercially and there is therefore no reason to expect a market to develop. In Britain, only three hatcheries are known to carry this out: the FBA; EA’s Kielder hatchery, and NRW’s Clywedog hatchery. Other facilities occur in Ireland, France, Norway and Luxemburg.