|
Marine natural heritage importance |
| National importance |
Scarce |
Red list category |
None |
| Listed under: |
Included in UK Biodiversity Action Plan
Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981
Northern Ireland conservation legislation
|
| Habitat / ecosystem importance |
| Does it occupy space and exclude other species? | Minor |
| Does the species provide habitat structure? |
Substratum |
| Management measures |
None |
| Additional information |
| The legendary 'cloth of gold' was made from the long fine byssus threads of pinnids (Osing, 1968, Turk, 1982). Curiously, in past times, although seldom captured, many fishermen considered Atrina fragilis unclean, and returned it directly to the sea because the byssus was so similar to human hair that it was thought that they had consumed drowned sailors (Dan Minchin, pers comm.).
Mediterranean Pinna nobilis may be taken for bait, consumption and for the curio trade. The byssus of pinnids was collected in Bay of Naples for making glues (Dan Minchin pers comm.).
The community structure of UK fan mussel beds is poorly studied. |
