Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Chinese pond mussel infestation of the Danube in Rousse

Photo: BGNES

The huge mussels, reaching 22 to 26 cms. in size which appeared along the bank of the Danube in Rousse about a fortnight ago, have been proved to be an invasive mussel species from China, Radio Varna reports.

Biodiversity and ecosystems experts from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences say they are Chinese pond mussels. They were first spotted in the Danube in 2005 but since then, the population of the species has exploded.

The Chinese pond mussels are not a direct threat to the other animal species but they do attack their direct Bulgarian rivals – two species of pond mussels – by reducing their feed resources. The invasion was first noticed in the first half of August when the temperature of the water rose. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Protest against the adoption of the euro to be held on February 22

The Vazrazhdane parliamentary party is organizing a protest on February 22 in front of the Bulgarian National Bank against Bulgaria's entry into the Eurozone and for preserving the Bulgarian lev.  Other parties and civil organizations are expected..

published on 2/18/25 5:10 PM

Ex-PM Boyko Borisov: Not a single Bulgarian soldier will go to Ukraine

No Bulgarian soldier will go to Ukraine. This was stated by GERB leader and ex-premier Boyko Borisov in a video statement on his Facebook page. He pointed out that this was a decision of GERB and the party's parliamentary group from June 2024 and is..

published on 2/18/25 3:32 PM
At the official opening of the 10th International Agricultural Exhibition AGRA in Plovdiv

4% of Bulgaria's GDP is created by the agricultural sector

The agriculture sector in Bulgaria maintains its stability, providing employment to 6% of the population and forming about 4% of the country's GDP. This is shown by current data on the state of the sector, presented by the Minister of Agriculture..

published on 2/18/25 3:14 PM