No living pina is its largest bivalve mollusk Mediterraneanwas not detected in the area of ​​Thermaikos gulf and Halkidiki during the research of scientists to save the species that is on the verge of extinction due to infestation by pathogenic organisms.

In actions to restore its populations drink (Pinnanobilis), which have completely collapsed in Greece and the Mediterranean, the Protected Areas Management Unit of Central Macedonia of OFYPEKA is proceeding. Actions include continuous environmental monitoring of the species, but also efforts to create cores of new populations through transplants. These issues were discussed in the context of a workshop on “H Mediterranean Pinna Pinnabilis in crisis. Synergies for her rescue” held today at Warehouse 13 of the Central Port Authority of Thessaloniki.

According to his professor Department of Oceanography and Marine Life Sciences of the University of the Aegean, Droso Koutsoumba, the large dead pina individuals found in the survey area were found to have been dead for some time already while the absence of young pina individuals implies failure to reproduce in previous years. It is also indicative that in 31 sampling points, 40 dead pina individuals and none alive were found.

It is noted that Mr. Koutsoubas is carrying out a survey – census of the populations of the pina with funding from the Operational Program TODAY in two Marine Protected Areas under the responsibility of the Central Macedonia Protected Areas Management Unit, and in particular in a part of Thermaikos Gulf that belongs to the Delta Axios Protected Area and the Marine Protected Area “Cape Pyrgos – Ormos Kypsas-Malamo”, in Kassandra of Halkidiki.

As part of the project, special collectors have been installed to collect pinna larvae in selected places where either healthy populations of the species are recorded or it is possible that marine currents will establish larvae. It is also planned to transfer healthy pinna individuals to specific habitats of the study areas (e.g. estuarine areas) where, due to the environmental conditions (low temperatures for long periods of the year – extreme salinities), the possibility of the spread of the parasite is greatly reduced Haplosporidium pinnae.

In the context of the same project, an online Citizen Science platform is being created for the Rescue of Pina in the Greek seas. Scientists are calling on citizens who spot a live or dead pinfish to post photos and details (in which area the photo was taken, how many pinfish were there, what condition they were in) on the Red Fish Project Facebook page, and become thus the eyes and ears of scientists in their area, helping to save the species. In fact, in a special brochure prepared by the O.FY.PE.KA., in collaboration with the Department of Oceanography and Marine Biosciences, information is given to citizens who spot and want to record the specific species and is summarized as follows:

1.Living fins stand upright on the bottom and their shell snaps shut if they sense a change in their environment

2. Live but infected fins close their shell very slowly and often it does not close completely

3. The dead pinnae are not necessarily uprooted from the bottom, they can also stand upright like the living ones but the inside of the shell is empty and its ports do not open and close.