The discovery of the black mussel (Mytella strigata) in coastal shrimp farms in Sri Lanka’s northwestern coastal belt has raised concerns among scientists, who warn against its potential to disrupt the country’s fragile aquatic ecosystems.

Clusters of these mussels were first discovered attached to hard surfaces and each other at the bottom of drained shrimp ponds at a site that was being inspected for the development of a mangrove restoration project. According to Malik Fernando of the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society (WNPS), these ponds had been free of mussels just three and a half months earlier. “The owners confirmed the ponds were clear before, which points to a rapid local establishment,” Fernando told Mongabay.

To read the full story visit https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/as-fast-spreading-mussel-sweeps-across-asia-sri-lanka-faces-new-invasive-threat/

Photo credit: Thilina Kumarasiri