Police appeal after pearl poachers hit Cairngorms

Police have appealed for the help of fishermen and walkers who frequent the River Spey after scores of freshwater pearl mussels were killed by poachers.

Some 80 mussels, an endangered species, were found near a fishing hut a quarter of a mile downstream from the Old Spey Bridge at Grantown on Spey.

Police Scotland believe the shellfish were targeted by illegal pearl poachers last weekend.

Andrew Courts, an Aviemore-based constable with the force, said: “Pearl mussels are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and this illegal persecution is extremely disappointing.

“Those responsible would have been present in the shallow waters for some time to remove this number of shells and on the bank opening shells.”