Giant Mussels Rescued From Around Shipwreck

Scientists intervene to protect rare giant mussels found under the wreck of the capsized cruise ship Costa Concordia. Tara Cleary reports.

Published

7 months ago

Categories

Science

Topics

Marine Biology

People

Tara Cleary

Places

Italy

Transcript

A carefully planted field of giant mussels off the coast of Italy. The enormous molluscs were relocated by scientists afraid for their survival. The giant mussels, of the Pinna Nobilis species were found near capsized liner Costa Concordia where salvage operations are taking place, says Marine Biologist, Andrea Belluscio. SOUNDBITE: Andrea Belluscio, Marine Biologist in charge of environmental monitoring of Costa Concordia salvage project, saying (Italian): "A large number of these animals, about two hundred of them were found in an area of risk, in an area where in future the work will take place. Therefore it's a zone that most definitely would have been destroyed during this process." The Pinna Nobilis can grow nearly one meter, or three feet long. And Belluscio says some of the mussels found are between 15 and 20 years old. The removal of the ship will take over one year and will require the construction of an underwater platform. Moving the mussels keeps them out of the salvaging path … and out of danger. SOUNDBITE: Andrea Belluscio, Marine Biologist in charge of environmental monitoring of Costa Concordia salvage project, saying (Italian): "Keeping them constantly in the water, we moved them to a safe place nearby, somewhere that no work is expected to take place but which is protected and not accessible to everyone, and there they have been parked in a field." And once the ship is removed, the mussels will be returned to their original habitat.