While picking litter at Grafham yesterday, we came across thousands of shells piled up along the shore in the bay west to G point.

Just wondering if there's a sinister explanation or is it just a natural occurrence?



This is just a small sample and obviously includes a few Zebra mussels.
Last time I saw anything like this was in the 80's when Copper Sulphate was allegedly used to clear out encrustations from the pipes.

I wonder if Anglian Water would like to comment?

The Pirate.

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This could possibly be down to cormorants as they have been known to eat fresh water mussels.

That area of the reservoir is also a favourite haunt of the cormorants.

Just trying to come up with a non-conspiracy theory for the phenomenon.

Graham

Just a guess but would they have been killed by the big freeze we have had !
Did bit of Grafham get frozen over for several days !

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You know I fished Grafham about six years ago and found a big ball of zebra mussels and told one of the wardens about them. I was sort of fobbed of about them and got the distinct impression best not mention them.
I have seen Zebera mussel in Rutland as well you know.
Tight Lines
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There may well be a logical reason why they are washed up in their hundreds/thousands even like that. But I suspect some thing is not right.

The water freezing would IMHO have nothing to do with that kill, partially due to the depth these will be found [3ft or even more] I suspect something else was the cause and as one person had said earlier, a question for the water board.

kf28

There were stories of certain ethnic europeans over here actually catching these for pearls! Yep.. freshwater pearls... Not suggesting this occurred at Grafham but???..

Something is very wrong here. I've seen collections of mussel shells around the banks at Grafham in the past, but nothing like this. it looks like they've either been harvested or there's been a mass kill. was there any 'meat' in any of the shells? presume the cormorants would have scoffed them but if there was it would suggest a poisoning.?

That was my first thought too.

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