The coastal waters of the State are witnessing a massive spread of an invasive species, the Caribbean false mussel (Mytilopsis sallei), which is wiping out the native clams and oysters that are crucial for the State’s fisheries, a report from the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) said.
The latest ‘Assessment report on invasive alien species and their control’ from IPBES said the Caribbean false mussels, originally from the Atlantic and Pacific coast of South and Central America, have spread widely through the coastal waters of Kerala.
The report said the invasive species could have reached the Indian coast through ballast waters (the seawater that ships carry inside for better stability) and later spread to the estuaries through smaller fishing vessels.
