Asian green mussels poses biosecurity risks to marine ecosystems, aquaculture, and infrastructure. This invasive species was most recently detected in Weipa’s marine environment, in September 2024 (Summerson 2025). The Queensland Government has undertaken delimitation surveillance to determine the extent of the incursion (Summerson 2025).
Asian green mussels have been regularly found fouling commercial and recreational vessels arriving at Australian ports from Southeast Asia (Heersink et al. 2014). Anchor wells, sea chests and internal seawater systems are common areas where they have been detected. Asian green mussels have also been detected on apprehended foreign fishing vessels.
Past environmental detections of Asian green mussels:
Surveillance indicated no established populations at these locations.
Asian green mussels are listed as a nationally significant pest on both the Australian Priority Marine Pest List (APMPL) and the national priority Exotic Environmental Pest List (EEPL). The species is also listed on several State and Territory government marine pest lists.
The key features:
Asian green mussels are large, conspicuous bivalves found individually or in dense clusters. The adult mussel typically measures between 80 and 100 mm long (Vakily 1989).
Shell colour: bright green to blue-green shell in juveniles. Older individuals tend to be a darker brown (Siddall 1980).
Ventral margin: Straight or weakly concave.
Adductor muscle: The posterior adductor muscle is large, and kidney shaped.
Refer to diagnostic figures on this page.
If introduced to Australia, Asian green mussels is most likely to establish in northern Australian ports, where water temperature conditions are favourable for Asian green mussel establishment.
The native distribution of Asian green mussels cannot be accurately confirmed (Rajagopal et al. 2006). Literature states that its native distribution includes the Indo-Pacific region, India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific islands, Hong Kong and Japan.
Asian green mussels are native to the Indo-Pacific region and is primarily distributed along the Indian and the South-east Asian coasts from the Persian Gulf to Japan (Rajagopal et al. 2006).
The species is widely farmed across the Indo-Pacific region, including southern China, Japan, Taiwan, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. They’ve also been introduced to Fiji and eastern Polynesia (Siriwardena, 2019).
Perna viridis shells exterior.
A single specimen of Perna viridis. The distinct green colour of the shell is clearly visible.
Comparison of a convex antero-ventral valve margin of P. canaliculus (A) straight margin of P. perna (B) a straight margin of P. viridis (C).
Inside of Perna viridis shells.
Perna viridis diagram and key features. Vivid emerald green shell covering. Anterior adductor muscle absent. Single tooth on right valve at beak, two teeth on left valve at beak. Posterior adductor muscle kidney-shaped and well separated from posterior pedal retractor muscle. Straight or weakly concave ventral margin. Pallial line S-shaped at posterior end.
A collection of eight specimens showing the varying size and colour of Perna viridis.
Perna viridis, with byssal threads used for attachment points.
Sample Perna viridis speciment on a hand to demontrate scale.
Image demonstrating dense Perna viridis fouling on infrasturcuture.
Perna viridis fouling in dry dock. Note green margins on shells.
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