Hollander & Dekoning Mussels Size: 10 pound bags - 15 mussels per pound Availability: Year-round. Of Maine’s 10 native species, three (Yellow Lampmussel, Tidewater Mucket, Brook Floater) are currently listed as Threatened under the Maine Endangered Species Act and one (Creeper) is considered of Special Concern. They can be grilled, steamed, baked or fried. get the field guide Freshwater Mussels of the Midwest, Join the Mussel Monitoring Program and go out and collect shells and report what you find Mussel Monitoring Program of Wisconsin. In some parts of the country, the accidental introduction of a prolific foreign competitor, the zebra mussel, is also jeopardizing many populations. Freshwater mussels are bivalve mollusks found in the benthos of rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds of various sizes. There are many simple things you can do to help protect freshwater mussels. MDIFW produced “The Freshwater Mussels of Maine” (Nedeau et al. It is actually illegal to even handle them without a licence let alone dine on them. One obvious difference between freshwater and marine mussels is that freshwater mussels live in freshwater streams, rivers, ponds and lakes while marine mussels live in salt water oceans and bays. Alert: Stay up to date on Maine's COVID-19 Response, Home → Fish & Wildlife → Wildlife → Species Information → Invertebrates → Rare Freshwater Mussels. MDIFW is committed to its responsibility of conserving these rare species for the future and regularly works to ensure their habitats are protected and recovery and relocation plans are put in place when projects such as dam removals, bridge construction or dredging pose a threat. SCUBA diver and aquatic biologist, Canadian Museum of Nature. Back in the early 1900s, there were about 14 species of native freshwater mussels in the Delaware River Basin. The Yellow Lampmussel and Tidewater Mucket are listed because of their restricted distribution in Maine – both are found only in the Penobscot, St. George and lower Kennebec River watersheds. Hollander & Dekoning Mussels Size: 10 pound bags - 15 mussels per pound Availability: Year-round. Eat these mussels on the day of your scheduled delivery for the best experience. Most Canadians who love the outdoors have, at some point in time, seen empty shells of freshwater mussels, or clams, along the lake or river shore while enjoying their favorite recreational activities. Check prices of moules frites and moules marinieres. [from Zeto and Schmidt (1985)] WHAT ARE FRESHWATER MUSSELS? The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is an endangered species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusc in the family Margaritiferidae.. • Keep or plant native vegetation along the shoreline of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. Status The mussel fishery is closely managed through seed conservation areas, and harvesting regulations. Of course freshwater clams can live in freshwater, but saltwater clams can live in freshwater for about a week What do giant freshwater stingrays eat? Fortunately, compared to most states within the range of these rare mussels, Maine hosts some of the best remaining populations and may be a last stronghold. Get cooking inspiration to bring out the natural flavors of these mussels on the Maine … Mussels are filter feeders; hence you run the risk of ingesting any contaminates found in the mussels’ environment. You could have them checked out by a lab. Freshwater mussels are are a valuable indicator of water quality and aquatic ecosystem health. Hosting by Packawhallop, © 2020 LakesofMaine.org     Terms of Use. 2000) -- a comprehensive book summarizing much of what we now know about the life history, distribution, status, conservation needs, and value of the State’s freshwater mussel fauna. Mussels are rich in the marine Omega-3s, EPA and DHA. They eat shrimp ,small fish ,plankton ,and clams. H&D Mussels are grown by the DeKoning family in the waters of Mount Desert Island, Maine. Blue mussels are starting to decline in areas such as the Gulf of Maine. What good are they? Rangewide concerns for this species include very low population densities, fragmented distributions, and limited or no evidence of recruitment in some populations. The DeKonings, sixth generation mussel farmers, moved to Maine from the Netherlands to continue their mussel growing legacy in the States. Freshwater mussels are easy to spot along riverways where they occur, but they can be difficult to identify, as members of the same species can differ greatly in appearance. The freshwater clams of North America (also called freshwater mussels) are bivalves belonging to the super-family Unionacea. Derek Davis, formerly Chief Curator of Natural History at the Nova Scotia Museum, has provided expert help in identifications, as well as in molluscan biology and ecology. Richard Prideaux looks at the dangers from eating wild and foraged mussels. Weight Loss. Some mussel species require particular fish hosts for … They are long-lived - more than 100 years for some species. As delicious as they are, they can be a challenge to eat. If you need assistance, view our PDF Help page, or email us. 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