BUSINESS MEMO: MUSSEL HARVEST

A commercial mussel harvest will be allowed on a lower portion of the Illinois River this month with an approved contract from the Department of Natural Resources.

Harvest will be allowed by contract from the mouth of the Illinois River upstream to the railroad bridge near Pearl in southern Pike County at river mile 43.3. The experimental harvest is the first since the river was closed to commercial mussel harvest in 1994. At that time, biologists thought the zebra mussel would cause the extermination of native mussel species.

In recent years, however, zebra mussels have declined in the lower river while native mussels appear to be healthy and abundant. A signed contract will be required of each mussel harvester, and a daily report of mussel harvest must be completed.

For additional information or to obtain a contract, contact Commercial Fishing Program manager Bob Williamson at IDNR, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, Ill. 62701 or call (217) 782-6424.