The Protection of Fresh-Water Mussels

"The Protection of Fresh-Water Mussels" by R. E. (Robert Ervin) Coker is a scholarly work that explores the status of the fresh-water mussel industry at the start of the 20th century. It highlights the mussel's economic value and urgently calls for protective actions to preserve mussel numbers. Examining the industry's ecological and financial difficulties, the book suggests plans for improvement and protection. Coker dives into detail on major issues including overfishing, habitat loss, and the harm of uncontrolled fishing methods. He supports putting size restrictions in place to protect young mussels and creating protected areas in rivers to let mussel beds naturally recover. He argues for carefully crafted legislation to balance industrial demands with conservation initiatives. The book focuses on sustainable methods that assist both local communities and maintain healthy mussel populations and aims to be a significant resource for decision-makers, environmental advocates, and anybody with a stake in the long-term health of the freshwater ecosystem and the financial benefits it brings.