A recent report by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) highlights the destructive impact of the invasive Caribbean false mussel, Mytilopsis sallei, on Kerala’s native clams and oysters. Originating from South and Central America, this species likely reached the Indian coast through ballast water and has rapidly spread through estuaries from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. It poses a severe threat to mussel aquaculture farms and native species, outcompeting them in their natural habitats. The IPBES, an independent intergovernmental body, strives to bridge science and policy for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, with UNEP providing secretariat services.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Caribbean False Mussel: Mytilopsis sallei, an invasive species originating from South and Central America, causing harm to Kerala’s native clams and oysters.
- Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES): An independent intergovernmental body established to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services, working towards biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
- Ballast Water: Seawater carried by ships for stability, which may inadvertently transport invasive species to new regions.
- Mussel Aquaculture Farms: Farms dedicated to the cultivation of mussels, which are now under threat due to the invasion of the Caribbean false mussel.
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): The UNEP provides secretariat services to IPBES, supporting its mission to bridge science and policy for biodiversity and ecosystem service conservation.