A SOUTH Cumbrian organisation has been awarded £1.5million to help save the critically endangered freshwater pearl mussel.

The Freshwater Biological Association (FBA), based in Far Sawrey, is now leading the way for conservation of the threatened mollusc in England thanks to a Biffa Award cash boost.

The FBA is leading the three year ‘Restoring Freshwater Mussel Rivers in England’ project, and will work with North York Moors National Park, South Cumbria Rivers Trust, West Cumbria Rivers Trust and Devon Wildlife Trust to deliver river restoration and habitat improvement works in important pearl mussel rivers in these areas.

The project will focus on protecting key pearl mussel populations and restoring affected habitats in order to secure long term conservation of populations through the reintroduction of juvenile mussels.

Louise Lavictoire, of FBA, said most of the groundwork would be carried out by South Cumbria Rivers Trust in the River Kent and Windermere catchments.

“They will be doing a number of things to improve the habitat within the river, such as fencing around riverbanks or stabilising banks,” she said.

“It’s about restoring land that has suffered damaging effects from things like agricultural practices.”

Re-introductions of juvenile mussels reared as part of the FBA’s Freshwater Pearl Mussel Ark project are planned for 2018. Tagging of juveniles will aid monitoring of reintroduced mussels.

Bill Brierley, Chief Executive of the Freshwater Biological Association, said: “This project is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to this critically endangered species.

“Freshwater pearl mussels are indicators of near-pristine water quality and declining populations provide a warning that the ecological health of the river is deteriorating. This project will raise awareness and tackle these threats in order to reverse the decline of this iconic species.”

Gillian French, Biffa Award Programme Manager, said “This project is an exciting opportunity to save one of the most long-lived animals from extinction; the freshwater pearl mussel can live for more than 100 years and is internationally protected.”

The work will be carried out by involving local communities and communicating knowledge and best practice to important stakeholders.

Biffa Award was established in 1997 under the Landfill Communities Fund to support a wide range of community and environmental projects across the UK.