Staff at the Federal Fisheries Department say it appears a species of mussel not ever seen before in Canadian waters must have drifted across the Pacific amid debris from the powerful Japanese tsunami – and came to rest in BC waters.
A scientific paper published by the International Journal of Molecular Sciences says the mussel is one of the most important marine shellfish species in Korea.
B.C.’s ministry of the environment says the greatest risk for major debris has now passed, with the overall volume of trash arriving along the western shoreline lower than anticipated.
Japan’s government gave the federal government $1 million to be shared among West Coast organizations, First Nations and municipal governments for cleaning up debris after the devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Agencies/Canadajournal