Missing Mussels
Blue mussels are disappearing in coastal waters from Cape Cod to Canada’s Maritimes in a trend researchers warn has seen the populations plunge by more than 60 percent in 40 years.
The warming of the Gulf of Maine, along with human harvesting and the arrival of invasive species, appear to be behind the decline.
Thousands of dead mussels washed up during mid-August along New York’s Long Island, which experts also attribute to unusually warm Atlantic waters.
Mussels are not only important to commercial fishing, but also play an important role in removing toxins and bacteria from the water.
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