A snail from China, which eats mainly mussels, oysters and clams, may cause the collapse of several national fisheries in Argentina, it is feared, as it did in Asia a number of years ago.
It is estimated that the marine snail Rapana venosa may have arrived in the country over 10 years ago in the ballast water of ships arriving at Argentine ports from Asian countries and from the Black Sea.
"The Asian snail is here, it has already settled and there is no way of getting rid of it," stated Diego Giberto, a biologist in the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Conicet).
The invasion of this snail may not only cause economic loss but also alter the biodiversity of marine and estuary communities of Rio de la Plata region and adjacent to the province of Buenos Aires.
The presence of this marine snail was discovered by researchers from Conicet and from the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (Inidep).
Giberto is the main author of a study on the impact of this invasive species on ecosystems in the region.
He maintained that, "although no data is available to support it, given the speed at which it is growing and what it eats, it may cause problems in fisheries".
The scientist said one of the ideas being developed to control this invasive mollusc was for artisanal fisheries to exploit it. According to Giberto, apart from generating an alternative for fishermen, it would be easier to live with this snail than eradicate it.
Inidep experts have also performed tests with traps for the snail in Rio de la Plata and in
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