By Sophia Stuart-Rasi, KUCB News
Published: 28 minutes ago
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Mussels are a traditional subsistence food source in Unalaska, but in recent years declining populations and concerns about paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) have limited the amount locals can safely harvest.
Now the Kawalangin Tribe of Unalaska is trying to change that. They partnered with Alaska consulting group Two Bears Environmental Consulting to conduct a pilot study to see whether moving mussels around the island affects levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PST). The tribe says PST levels can vary widely between nearby locations, and the poison is hard to detect because catchers can't smell, taste, or see it, and can't remove it by washing or cooking. But it can be tested for: In Unalaska, the mussels are sent to a lab in Anchorage for testing.
On May 14, scientists collected mussels from the Dutch Harbor Bar and transplanted them to other parts of the island later in the week. They plan to collect mussels again in September and test them for toxins. The big question is whether the mussels will survive and reproduce after being transplanted, and if they do, whether they are safe to eat. In 2020, a person died in Unalaska after eating mussels and snails with high levels of PST. Scientists say ocean warming due to climate change is increasing the toxin levels in the mussels.
Many Unalaska locals, like project leader Michael Tutiakov, have noticed fewer mussels on the island's beaches than they used to. Ronnie Wilcock, founder of Two Bears Environmental Consulting, says the plan is to relocate the mussels so they can populate new areas. Given the right conditions, she says, the mussels can grow like weeds.
This pilot study is part of a broader program to restore or enhance Unalaska's subsistence foods. The tribe could also study and harvest other subsistence foods, like aquatic snails and clams. But for now, they're hopeful that this summer's pilot project will be a first step toward restoring mussels as a safe, sustainable food source like they once were.
