Live noble pen shells discovered near Šibenik

(Photo: Hectonichus/CC BY-SA 3.0)

During a routine inspection of the shellfish farm Platform 22 beneath the Šibenik Bridge in mid-August, five juvenile noble pen shells (Pinna nobilis) were discovered.

These individuals were found at various depths on trellises positioned between 1.5 and 8 meters underwater.

HRT journalist Ivona Ramadža Čolić reported this significant find on the central news bulletin of HTV.

The five live noble pen shells were discovered inhabiting the shellfish farm in the brackish waters of the Šibenik Bay. They were growing on the trellises and were found at different depths, Ramadža Čolić reported.

She spoke with Anita Babačić Ajduk, Director of the Public Institution Nature of Šibenik-Knin County, a partner in the noble pen shell conservation project.

“The discovery is important. We are very pleased to know that, since the major die-off of pen shells in the Mediterranean in 2019, and subsequently on the Croatian side of the Adriatic, this is the first finding of five individuals at a single location, of different sizes, which gives us hope that there may be more individuals at this location,” said Babačić Ajduk.

The discovered pen shells are not juveniles. They were found two weeks ago by workers at the shellfish farm during an inspection of the trellises. Babačić Ajduk explained the next steps for the shells.

“In collaboration with the ministry, we are searching for potential relocation sites. We are measuring salinity, temperature, depths, and the seabed. We will decide on relocation sites accordingly. We hope that some of the shells will remain at the location where we found them, i.e., in the channel in front of Šibenik,” said Babačić Ajduk.

The noble pen shell is strictly protected and is listed as critically endangered. The Public Institution Nature urges everyone to be vigilant. There have been reports through the project of sightings of pen shells, which the Public Institution verifies, including this one.

“I thank the shellfish farm staff for reporting the discovery, as well as all the citizens who frequently contact us. We are delighted that this campaign has borne fruit, finding five individuals. I encourage everyone, especially shellfish farmers and people who spend a lot of time at sea, particularly during the summer months, to keep their eyes open and be our eyes on the ground,” Babačić Ajduk urged.

Nobel pen shell (Photo: Hectonichus/CC BY-SA 3.0)

The noble pen shell plays a crucial role in the ecosystem.

“It is important to note that this shellfish is a filter feeder and provides habitat for other marine species. It is endemic to the Mediterranean, and we hope this is the start of a successful recovery that will begin on the Croatian side and extend across the entire Mediterranean,” expressed Babačić Ajduk.

Currently, there are 30 known live individuals of this species in the Croatian part of the Adriatic, including the five found near Šibenik.

They are valuable, endangered, and protected. If you see any, report them, but do not disturb them.

The staff at the shellfish farm carefully removed the individuals from the trellises, placed them in a tank with flowing seawater, and reported the valuable find. The Public Institution Nature of Šibenik-Knin County and the Croatian Veterinary Institute, partners in the conservation activities for the noble pen shell in the Croatian Adriatic, contacted the farm and provided instructions on how to care for the individuals until the relevant authorities arrived, according to a statement from the Ministry of Environment and Green Transition.

Šibenik

During a field visit, it was confirmed that the individuals are in good condition and responding well to stimuli. It was agreed with the farm that the individuals would temporarily remain in the flow-through tank on the farm’s pontoon until their byssal threads recover and they are ready to return to the sea.

Another field visit will be conducted on Wednesday, August 21, to check the condition of the individuals and collect samples for laboratory analysis.

“A smile says more than any words; this find is sensational, a huge turnaround. They have been alive for two weeks, meaning in our sea. The shellfish farm owner has provided them with excellent conditions, stable sea temperature, and salinity; they are responding excellently, and we hope they will continue to do so,” said Angela Bradarić, a member of the research team from the Croatian Veterinary Institute in Zagreb.

(Photo: Hectonichus/CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Ministry of Environment and Green Transition thanks the shellfish farm staff for reporting the discovery of the live individuals and for their assistance.

The Ministry also appeals to all shellfish farms to pay particular attention to the presence of noble pen shells during infrastructure inspections. Detailed instructions for handling discoveries of noble pen shells will be provided to shellfish farms.

The noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis) is a Mediterranean endemic and our largest bivalve mollusc. It primarily inhabits sedimentary bottoms with seagrass meadows. In the Adriatic Sea, it is commonly found between 2 and 30 meters in depth and can grow up to 120 cm. It is found throughout the Adriatic. Since 2019, noble pen shell populations in the Adriatic have been affected by a deadly infection causing mass die-offs and leaving many dead individuals on the seabed.

To date, 25 live individuals have been confirmed in the Croatian part of the Adriatic, making these five individuals a valuable find that offers hope for the survival of the noble pen shell.

Please remember that the noble pen shell is a strictly protected species in Croatia. This includes the protection of the species and its habitats, and it is prohibited to intentionally capture or kill, disturb, destroy, damage or remove their developmental stages, damage or destroy their breeding or resting areas, and to keep, transport, sell, exchange, or offer for sale or exchange live or dead individuals.

Any information on live noble pen shells, locations where you have seen them, and photographs can be reported via this link on the website of the Institute for Nature Conservation of the Ministry of Environment and Green Transition or by email to: [email protected].