Thousands of freshwater mussels perish in Hukkajoki River, Suomussalmi

In recent days, the plight of the freshwater mussel, known as raakku in Finnish, has garnered significant attention in the local media. On Wednesday, Metsähallitus reported that thousands of mussels have perished in Suomussalmi, Kainuu. The Hukkajoki River, home to these endangered species, has been crossed by forestry machinery as many as 400 times according to their estimates.

Upon learning of the devastation, author Anni Kytömäki expressed disbelief and despair, stating, “I thought we had made some progress as a humanity.” Kytömäki argues that the incident highlights the difficulty of reconciling modern forestry practices with the natural limits of ecosystems. In her award-winning novel “Margarita,” published in 2020, the freshwater mussel plays a central role.

This week, Metsähallitus’ river restoration team has relocated 4,000 mussels from the affected area, with efforts continuing on Monday to transfer them upstream. Kytömäki notes that excessive logging targets and the pressures that come with them contribute to such destructive outcomes.

Reflecting on the recent crisis, she points out that nonpoint source pollution from agriculture and forestry has become the primary threat to mussels in recent decades, surpassing previous challenges like river dredging and damming. Kytömäki emphasizes the troubling reality of destruction directed at individual species, which can induce feelings of hopelessness due to the ongoing indifference to nature.

She hopes that her book has raised awareness about the endangered state of freshwater mussels. Kytömäki believes that art can profoundly influence people’s thoughts and actions, potentially leading to significant personal and societal change.

The incident in Hukkajoki is currently being investigated as a severe environmental crime, with punitive measures for recklessness expected. The economic consequences could amount to millions of euros if thousands of mussels were involved, as one protected mussel is valued at 589 euros.