Joe Breen of EHS said: " The Fan Mussel (EHS) (Latin name atrina fragilis) is Britain's largest and rarest bivalve mollusc. It was believed to exist only in Plymouth Sound and a few sites off the West of Scotland. Once widely sought after by Victorian shell-collectors, it is extremely vulnerable to pollution, trawling and dredging and was believed to be extinct in Irish waters. This find is especially significant as the only known living example in Ireland. Our team of divers recently discovered shells of this species off the North Coast and were looking for a living specimen. This Fan Mussel has been photographed and videoed for record and the team will conduct a wider survey soon to establish if this individual is part of an isolated population.
" The location of this find off Rathlin will be kept secret and reinforces the Island's reputation as a world hotspot for marine biodiversity. "
Notes to Editors:
In 2006 this team discovered species of sponges new to science in the same area.
Rathlin Island is a Special Area of Conservation under the European Habitats and Species Directive.
