Mussel mortality has become a recurring concern across the Adriatic Sea. These recent deaths are not limited to a single, isolated location but have been documented in various parts of the Adriatic in recent years. Due to the variability in conditions, a single, comprehensive assessment for the entire Adriatic is not feasible, as the extent of the losses fluctuates significantly between different locations and years.
However, in certain areas, the reported losses are substantial, impacting the majority of the local mussel population. Several specific areas have shown particularly severe impacts. The southern Italian coast, particularly the Gargano region, has experienced significant declines.
In 2024, mortality rates at mussel farms in this area surpassed 70%, with some sites reporting losses approaching 100%. Furthermore, the Bay of Kotor has also been identified as a severely affected area. Literature data from 2020 indicated that between 80% and 90% of farmed mussels were lost within this bay.
These documented instances highlight that the scale of mussel deaths varies considerably across different regions within the Adriatic.
Topics: #adriatic #deaths #areas
