Asian green mussel

Alert

Have you seen Asian green mussel?

Be on the lookout for Asian green mussel and report it to Biosecurity Queensland. Early detection and reporting are the key elements in controlling Asian green mussel.

Call us on 13 25 23.

Asian green mussels

Asian green mussel with size scale

Asian green mussels cluster

Asian green mussels on hull

Asian green mussel is an invasive and prohibited marine pest. It has been detected in Queensland several times in recent years:

near Weipa in North Queensland (May 2017)
Mornington Island (April 2019)
Escape River (August 2019)
on ships that had requested in-water cleaning in Queensland (December 2019 and July 2020)
on separate vessels in Trinity Inlet, Cairns (September 2021).

Investigations are ongoing, however, no populations are currently known to exist in the environment and it is considered exotic to Australia.

Asian green mussel can be introduced via ship's ballast water, as biofouling on boat hulls and through internal seawater systems.

The Asian green mussel is bright green when young and dark green to brown when mature, they are fast-growing and able to tolerate a wide range of conditions. They can spread rapidly in new locations, particularly where local predators are limited. They form dense populations, up to 35,000 individuals per square metre on a variety of hard marine structures.

It is illegal to import, or in any way deal with Asian green mussel. You must report any suspected sightings to Biosecurity Queensland.

Scientific name

Perna viridis

Similar species

Septifer bilocularis, Perna canaliculata (NZ green mussel)

Description

A large mussel, often growing to 10cm and occasionally reaching 18cm in size.
Juvenile shell is bright green.
Adults tend to retain the green colour along the growing edge only, developing an olive or brown colouration nearer to the attachment point.
Shell exterior is smooth with concentric growth rings and finely pitted ridge for ligament attachment.
Shell interior is smooth, iridescent pale blue to green.
Shell beak has interlocking teeth (1 in right valve, 2 in left).
Posterior is wavy, adductor muscle is large and kidney-shaped.

Habitat

Prefers warm estuarine (salty) waters.
Can survive for short periods in cool or less salty waters.
Prefers hard surfaces.
Settlement is greatest from 0–10m depth.

Distribution

Not yet established in Queensland.

Life cycle

Fertilised eggs form larvae, which exist in plankton for up to 55 days before settling.
Animal develops after settling and lives for about 2 years.

Impacts

Environmental

Out-competes native species.
Fouls hard surfaces, including vessel hulls, seawater systems, industrial intake pipes, wharves, artificial substrates and buoys.
Accumulates high concentrations of toxins and heavy metals, which can cause shellfish poisoning if eaten by humans.

Economic

Fouls hard surfaces, including vessel hulls, seawater systems, industrial intake pipes, wharves, artificial substrates and buoys.

Social

Accumulates high concentrations of toxins and heavy metals, which can cause shellfish poisoning if eaten by humans.

Control

Slipway operators, vessel inspectors and vessel owners should thoroughly check, clean and, where possible, dry vessel hulls and niche areas such as internal seawater systems.
Early detection is essential for preventing pest establishment. If you have seen Asian green mussels, immediately contact Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.

Legal requirements

Asian green mussel is a prohibited marine animal under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
All sightings of Asian green mussels must be reported to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours.
By law, everyone has a general biosecurity obligation (GBO) to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risk of Asian green mussels spreading until they receive advice from an authorised officer.

Further information

Contact the Customer Service Centre or visit the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website.

Last reviewed: 4 Jan 2021
Last updated: 1 Oct 2021

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