A new study analysing 30 years of monitoring data (1992–2022) shows notable changes in suspended blue mussels (Mytilus sp.) in Irish waters.

Over this period, mussels experienced a 17% decline in wet tissue weight and reduced condition, alongside increases in shell:tissue and moisture ratios; all of which may reflect physiological stress.

The drivers appear scale-dependent:

• At broader scales, sea surface temperature was the strongest predictor of mussel condition.
• At finer spatial scales, chlorophyll (food availability) showed stronger relationships with biometric health.

Overall, the findings highlight how both thermal and trophic factors shape bivalve health, and why long-term datasets are critical for understanding ecosystem change.

📄 Read the full study: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps15054