Work under way to remove invasive mussels from canal

The Zebra Mussel is an invasive species which can wipe out colonies of the native Duck and Swan mussels in the canal

A massive operation to dredge a canal in Cornwall is under way to remove a invasive species of mussel.

The non-native Zebra Mussel is an invasive species which has taken hold in Bude Canal.

The mussel may be small and attractive because of its black stripes but it can wipe out colonies of the native Duck and Swan mussels.

Large lagoons have been set up in a nearby car park so the dredged mussels can be dried out.

Lagoons have been set up behind screens in Bude's Crescent car park so the dredged material can be placed inside to dry out

Phil Wooster, project manager for Cormac Solutions which is overseeing the work in Bude, said the invasive species takes all the nutrients from the other molluscs, thereby killing them and is an effective breeder.

"We spend a lot of time and effort ensuring that we contain them within the material we've got and for the duration they are here they will die off, so when we transport them off site to a licenced disposal site they won't have any chance of regenerating."

Huge lagoons have been set up behind screens in Bude's Crescent car park so the dredged material can be placed inside to dry out over two weeks.

Peter La Broy , the Cornwall Councillor for Bude, said the dredging would hopefully also kill off Himalayan Balsam an invasive plant which thrives on riverbanks and prevents native species from growing.

"Anything that is dredged out of the canal has to be treated very carefully and be in a position that when it's taken away we're confident that we're not going to spread these species to other places."

The dredging is due to be finished by the middle of January and the entire project by 29 March.