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An invasive highly invasive and destructive gold clam, has been found in the Waikato River for the first time creating fears for the survival of native freshwater muscles Kākahi and wider ecosystem in the awa.
The clams can produce up to 400 offspring a day and are hermaphrodites, meaning each animal has both male and female reproductive organs and can self fertilise.
It's a nightmare scenario for Stu Muir, he's the Chair of the Endangered Species Foundation and a local farmer on the river in Waiuku who's also dedicated many years and a lot of land to restore the ecological habitat of his bit of the river.
The Gold clam (Corbicula fluminea) is also known as the Asian clam. Photo: Supplied/ Ministry for Primary Industries