A call for records on two invasive shipworm species

We ask that the Northern Irish diving community please keep an eye out for the two shipworm species described below. These species have so far been recorded in Scotland and England and are indicators of warming water temperatures, but we do not have any reports of them here (though the likelihood is they are present in NI waters). The significance of these reports is to help safeguard our underwater maritime heritage as they are wood burrowing organisms and thus may cause deterioration of wooden hulled shipwrecks.

The first species is the Blacktip shipworm (Lyrodus pedicellatus) – see photo 1. More on this species here: http://www.idscaro.net/…/species/lyrodus_pedicellatus1.htm

The second species is the Naval shipworm (Teredo navalis) – see photo below. More on this species here: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Teredo_navalis/