Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group (BSCG) has released a report by the James Hutton Institute, released under a freedom of information act request, that suggests there has been a 50% decline in Freshwater pearl mussels in the River Spey over the last 15 years.
The report says scientists had identified pollutants, such as high levels of phosphorus from detergents, fertilisers and human waste, as being the cause of the harm, with the worse affected area being in the vicinity of Aviemore
BSCG are concerned that the proposed building of thousands more homes in the Cairngorms will put the rare species at greater risk.
Craig Macadam of Charity Buglife commented. “The Freshwater pearl mussel is a globally endangered species and the findings of this report are cause for real concern. Steps must be taken to reduce the pollution and clean up the river and until this is tackled the idea of building thousands of new homes in the region is at best negligent.”
