On 2 August, a new EU ban came into force, which means that it is now not allowed to breed, cultivate, sell, exchange or transport three different species. These must also not be spread or released into nature.
Two animals – the African clawed frog and the mummified fish – are included in the ban, but also a plant which, according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, is “popular in aquariums and garden ponds and available in the trade”.
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Photo: Oscar Olsson/TT
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Mussel flower is prohibited
The plant subject to the ban is mussel flower, also known as water lettuce, which in southern Europe threatens freshwater ecosystems because it forms extensive “mats” on the surface of the water. This changes the light conditions in the water and out-competes other species.
In some cases, the mussel bloom can also cause problems in irrigation systems and hydropower because it can block waterways.
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The mussel flower is covered by the new EU ban. Photo: Stella Pictures You have to do that if you have mussel flower at home
So what should you do if you have mussel flower in your home or garden? So says Lina Tomassonnational coordinator for invasive alien species at the Norwegian Sea and Water Authority, in a press release from The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency:
– If you have mussel bloom in your pond or in your aquarium, you must remove it due to the ban. The easiest way is to throw the plant in the household waste or in a closed compost.
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