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Saving the giant pen shell in Greece

Moritz Pompl

The giant pen shell, or pinna nobilis, is found only in the Mediterranean Sea. But in 2016, a mass die-off occurred that nearly made them extinct. Now, some surviving specimens have been found off the Greek coast.

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The noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis), a giant clam species native to the Mediterranean, has been nearly wiped out by a virus since 2016.

In Greece's Ambracian Gulf, marine biologist Orestis Papadakis and his team are working to save the species by monitoring larvae and relocating adult clams to safer depths. But despite the species being protected for decades, illegal fishing continues, as seen in Athens' central market.

(This video summary was created using AI. A journalist edited it before publication.)