SCOTLAND'S freshwater mussel colonies are being hunted to the point of extinction for their prized pearls, and now conservationists and pearl fishers alike are calling for a complete ban on the practice.
The Scottish mussel beds, in fast-flowing Highland rivers, are the most important in Europe and in 1991 it became illegal to kill or injure the freshwater mussel when it was added to the list of protected species of the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.
However, that has failed to stop the clandestine practice of destroying the creatures, roughly 5% of which produce pearls.
Man has collected the molluscs and their shells for more than 30,000 years, for food, tools, medicine, or simply for their beauty and rarity. The Romans prized the Scottish pearls above all others, and Scottish kings adorned their crowns with them.
Pearl fishing has always held a strong allure. Between 1761 and 1764, #10,000 worth of pearls were fished from the Tay, while the more recent exploits of Mr Bill Abernethy, who discovered the famous Little Willie pearl - valued at #10,000 in 1967 - have inspired hundreds of fortune-seekers.
Their quarry is the Margaritifera margaritifera, which can live for up to 140 years and can take up to 10 years to produce a pearl.
Since the creation of a Royal Charter in the seventeenth century, there has been a public right to fish for pearls in Scotland, although it has been banned in the Irish Republic and Europe for a number of years.
Mr Peter Goodwin is one of a shrinking band of professional pearl fishers who have managed to earn up to #100 a day selling pearls to gem dealers.
With nearly 30 years of experience, he believes the mussel beds have deteriorated to such an extent that the only answer is for a complete ban.
He said: ``It has been bad for a number of years now and I don't have a clue where to look for them next year. A lot of rivers have been pearl-fished to extinction and, personally, I am seriously considering giving up completely.
``In the past, I felt that a licensing system might be the answer but I think a ban would probably be easier to implement.''
Mr Goodwin blames amateurs for destroying the businesses of professional pearl fishers.
He explained: ``Professional pearl fishers like myself are able to open the shells without harming the mussels but we cannot stop other people from killing them.''
Animal Concern's John Robins also favours a ban. He said: ``The number of mussels that are killed to produce just one pearl is phenomenal. Fishing has caused ecological damage to the river bed and I believe it is time it stopped.''
Mr Allan Stewart, wildlife liaison officer with Tayside Police, cites the problems of policing as another factor in the demise of the mussels.
He said: ``We get a number of reports of this happening but I am sure the problem is even more widespread. A lot of people are either ignoring the legislation or they are just unaware of it.''
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