Current non-native status and potential spread of the Mediterranean Mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 (Bivalvia, Mytilidae), in northwestern Mexico

The Mediterranean Mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819, is regarded by the federation as a high-risk invasive species in Mexico. Use of integrative taxonomy and niche modelling confirms mass aggregations in Ensenada harbour (Bahía de Todos Santos), Baja California, and forecasts this species’ presence in protected areas of the Gulf of California. While M. galloprovincialis is profitable in aquaculture, the economic benefit complicates efforts to evaluate and manage its invasive potential. This is the first detailed assessment of its non-native status in Mexican waters, and we emphasise the urgent need for a strategic plan to balance its economic advantages against environmental risks.