Scottish pearls

Pearl fishing in Scotland, highlighting the role of pearls in shaping events, including the Roman invasion of Britain. It underscores the decline of pearl-bearing mussels due to industrialization and pollution, while also emphasizing Scotland’s conservation efforts.

These mussels have been forming pearls in Scotland’s waters for hundreds of thousands of years, closely tied to river ecosystems. The Summer Walkers, a group in the Scottish Highlands, were skilled pearl fishers, harvesting pearls by identifying the best mussel locations based on river ecology.

However, overfishing and the quest for pearls led to mussel bed depletion. Even today, conservation challenges persist. Climate change and pollution threaten these mussels and their habitats.how to spot Scottish pearls