Rare clam makes comeback from extinction off shores of Croatia

Record ID: 1755467

  • Title: Rare clam makes comeback from extinction off shores of Croatia
  • Date: 8th December 2023
  • Summary: VRSAR, CROATIA (DECEMBER 7, 2023) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DRONE SHOTS OF COASTLINE (MUTE) VARIOUS OF UNDERWATER SHOTS, PINNA NOBILIS CLAMS MEMBER OF ISTRIAN ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY, SANDRO DUJMOVIC, SWIMMING (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) MEMBER OF ISTRIAN ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY, SANDRO DUJMOVIC, SAYING: "Last year in the winter, at this location in Vrsar, we were inform
  • Embargoed: 22nd December 2023 12:19
  • Keywords: Mediterranean sea croatia environment nature pinna nobilis
  • Location: VRSAR AND PULA, CROATIA
  • City: VRSAR AND PULA, CROATIA
  • Country: Croatia
  • Topics: Environment,Europe,Nature/Wildlife,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA001436808122023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A huge clam that was on the verge of extinction has made a comeback, with a surge in numbers in waters off Croatia, marine biologists say.
    Numbers plummeted across the region, and until recently, scientists in Croatia only knew of around 10 surviving in their corner of the Adriatic.
    Then, last year, a diver spotted a group of 20 near the shore in the north of the Istria peninsula, said Sandro Dujmovic of the Natura Histrica organization, which manages Istria's protected areas.
    The clams, whose shells can grow as much as 4 feet (120 cm) across, play an important ecological role by filtering seawater and allowing other organisms to flourish.
    In the aquarium in the Adriatic town of Pula, they are kept in specially filtered water, clear of the parasites that can attack them.
    Biologist Nikolina Premate said that they are provided with the cleanest environment to strengthen them.
    Dujmovic and Premate said it was too early to determine the cause of the comeback, but Croatia's government is funding more research.
    (Production Antonio Bronic, Daria Sito-Susic, Hedy Beloucif)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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