Image description: offshore windfarm captured during sunset. Photo by Greece-China News/ Pexels

The Scottish Government and environment agency NatureScot have been urged to step in to protect freshwater pearl mussels before they become extinct, due to the threat posed by wind farm developments. Freshwater pearl mussels are critically endangered, and professor of aquatic systems biology at the Technical University of Munich Juergen Geist believes a proposed wind farm development in the Highlands, alongside other similar schemes, pose a serious threat to the survival of the species. Pearl mussels are extremely sensitive to even slight changes in the river catchments, such as increased erosion or changes of flow regimes, which have a higher chance of occurring with the proposed new developments.

Scotland is a stronghold for the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera, but like other populations in Europe they are declining. Professor Geist argues “both from an ecological as well as from an economic perspective, conserving intact pearl mussel populations is much more useful than trying to restore deteriorating ones”.

The plans in question are owned by German company EnergieKontor UK, and will see 11 turbines measuring 200m high and several battery electricity storage system units being built at Strath Oykel, Sutherland. Additional wind farm developments could see up to 179 turbines surrounding the nearby villages of Rosehall, Brae, Doune and Altass.

Reportedly NatureScot has not lodged an objection to the Sutherland proposal, despite the concern raised for freshwater pearl mussels. However, NatureScot did state the windfarm “was subject to strict conditions to protect the internationally important natural heritage interests in the River Oykel Special Area of Conservation (SAC)… this includes a species protection plan for freshwater pearl mussels and a pollution prevention plan”.