In Galicia, once Europe's principal source of shellfish, alarming reports indicate a dramatic 90% decline in some stocks. The situation has worsened with 2023's figures showing an 80% drop in cockles and a 78% decline in certain clams, while mussel production reached its lowest levels in 25 years. Local fishers and experts attribute these losses mainly to climate change affecting salinity levels and increasing rainfall, alongside pollution from agricultural and industrial waste. Calls for scientific research and government funding highlight the urgent need for answers and solutions.
Over the past two years rainfall has been well above the average. But we don't have enough concrete evidence and what we'd like is for someone to come and do some proper research so that we know what's behind this and what we can do about it.
The biggest cause is pollution from waste discharged into the estuary, from agriculture and from factories, such as the fish canneries, she says.
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