Biologists report significant damage to freshwater mussel population in Hukkajoki, Finland

The destruction of the freshwater mussel population in Hukkajoki is not an isolated incident; there have been multiple instances where forestry or construction machinery has crossed streams or rivers that are home to these endangered species. According to project manager Pirkko-Liisa Luhta from Metsähallitus, over the years, they have become aware of “a double-digit number” of machinery crossings of mussel rivers.

This recent case only differs in its scale and in the fact that biologists were present on site. The biologists were conducting research related to the mussel population when they witnessed the incident and reported it directly to Luhta, who subsequently contacted the Kainuu ELY Centre to request a halt to the logging activities.

Luhta emphasizes that many instances of mussel damage have been identified through fieldwork, referencing a 2018 case where an entire mussel population was discovered after finding shells in a trail created by an ATV. Of concern is that during a recent clear-cutting operation, machinery crossed the river approximately 400 times, resulting in significant sediment entering the water—this sediment can be fatal to the mussels.

Luhta criticizes Finnish practices regarding river crossings, stating that vehicles should never drive over streams or rivers. She noted that in neighboring Sweden, such practices are prohibited. Furthermore, Moilanen suggests that budgetary constraints might lead to these harmful decisions, as using nearby state-owned roads would incur additional costs.

The awareness surrounding the location of mussel populations was limited until a strategy for their conservation was published in 2021, highlighting the need for better communication with forestry operations.