The Pearl Mussel Project was a five-year results-based agri-environmental project which ended in December 2023. The project was run by the Pearl Mussel Project Ltd., with Wetland Surveys Ireland acting as a main project partner. Any enquiries relating to the Pearl Mussel Project can be made to Wetland Surveys Ireland
info@wetlandsurveys.ie
064 66425524
Pearl Mussel Programme - Project Background
The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is a mussel species of clean rivers that is on the verge of extinction in Ireland and western Europe due to intensification of land use. The Pearl Mussel Project (PMP) was a locally led European Innovation Partnership (EIP) whereby local farmers, researchers, and advisors worked together to develop a programme to ensure long term coexistence of farming and freshwater pearl mussel in eight priority catchment areas in the west of Ireland.
The Pearl Mussel Project built on the work undertaken by the Kerry LIFE demonstration project in the Caragh and Blackwater river catchments in South Kerry from 2014 to 2019. The Kerry LIFE project developed and demonstrated sustainable land use management techniques and practices for local farmers and forest-owners in these two freshwater pearl mussel catchments.
The six year Pearl Mussel Project, with a total budget of €10 million, commenced in May 2018 and concluded in December 2023. The project included the following elements:
- A results based agri-environmental programme. The programme was an opportunity for farmers to be recognized and financially rewarded for delivering environmental benefits. Environmental targets were set for individual farmers, who could then choose the most appropriate management to achieve that environmental target. Payments reflected the level of achievement based on a result that is measured in the field. Find out more about the programme here.
- Community outreach. The project team promoted environmental awareness amongst the local communities in each of the project areas.
- Research and development. Supporting research and development relevant to the aims of the project.
Funding the project
The Pearl Mussel Project was an EIP (European Innovation Partnership) Locally Led Scheme. The Project was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as part of Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.
Thank you
On behalf of the team and our partners, we would like to extend thanks to all participants for their involvment with the project over the last 5 years, which ended in December 2023.
We couldn’t have done it without you!
You can read more in the Overview of the Pearl Mussel Project 2018-2023
