In 2016, an epidemic severely affected the presence of the noble pinna mollusk, the largest bivalve mollusk in the Mediterranean. This devastation led the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to classify the species as "critically endangered." Now, however, precious signs of hope are arriving from the seas of Sardinia.
Ten years after the mass die-off that drastically reduced the population of the so-called "sea snail," two live specimens have been identified along the western coast of Sardinia. The Region announced this via the Sardegna Ambiente portal: "One of these, approximately three years old, indicates that the species has managed to reproduce even after the die-off. We hope these are not isolated cases."
The first discovery was made by a team from the Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies of the National Research Council (CNR) during monitoring activities. "At a depth of approximately two meters, within the Posidonia oceanica meadow, researchers identified a live specimen , with the mollusk clearly visible inside its shell. Measurements taken during subsequent surveys allowed us to estimate its age at approximately three years. This is the most significant finding: the specimen settled years after the die-off began. This means that, despite everything, the species is still capable of reproducing and colonizing new seabeds."
The second sighting dates back to a few days before the mid-August holiday, at a depth of about four meters, and was documented in a short video by a naturalist and documentary filmmaker: "Without measurements, it is not possible to estimate its age, but the discovery confirms that the presence of the species is not limited to a single area of Sardinia."
According to experts, "caution remains warranted: these are just a few specimens, and further monitoring and investigation will be needed to determine their health and origin. The hope, however, is that these are not isolated cases and that these signs represent the beginning of a slow recovery of the species in the seas of Sardinia and the Mediterranean."
At this stage, even those who frequent the sea can make a difference. "Citizens, boaters, divers, and fishermen are the first eyes on the seabed, and every report helps reconstruct the presence of the species. The Pinna nobilis is a protected species, and if sighted, it should not be touched or moved."
