Appeal after endangered pearl mussels killed on the River Spey

Aviemore police have launched an appeal for information after a number of endangered freshwater pearl mussels were removed from the River Spey and killed.

Eighty mussels were found by a member of the public near the fishing hut, approximately a quarter-mile downstream from the Old Spey Bridge in Grantown.

They are believed to have been removed some time over last weekend.

Reporting officer Constable Andrew Courts said: “Pearl mussels are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and this illegal persecution is extremely disappointing.

“Those responsible would have been present in the shallow waters for some time to remove this number of shells and on the bank opening the shells in an attempt to locate a pearl.

“Police are appealing for anyone – fisherman, walkers, cyclists – who were in this area over the weekend and who saw anything suspicious to come forward and call us on 101, quoting incident NM1844/18. “