The discovery of a new invasive freshwater clam in the Salmon Arm reach of Shuswap Lake has prompted a community meeting about the issue.
Last year a live population of Corbicula fluminea, an invasive freshwater clam (also known as golden, pygmy, or Asian clam), was discovered in the lake, the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society said in a media release. They are considered invasive due to their negative impacts on many North American waterways. The clams have been present in the Lower Mainland area since about 2008.
Surveys presented at a Jan. 20 meeting called about the issue showed that current distribution of clams is confined to the Salmon Arm reach of the Shuswap Lake.
In a media release, CSISS said that environment ministry staff were studying the issue, and that a, “thorough understanding of extent, risk and potential impacts is first needed to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of potential control options. The Government of BC is currently updating the provincial risk assessment for invasive clams to include changes in distribution and the latest research and findings from other jurisdictions.”
The clams are not thought to be as disruptive as invasive mussels, but CSISS notes that their impact vary a lot depending on the water body they colonize, and that there are “relatively few effective control options.”
CSISS runs a number of invasive species monitoring programs and “anticipates increased outreach and education in 2021.”
Learn more about the clam at this link. Learn more about the situation here.
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