Mussel Mortality Events and Changes in the Mediterranean Sea Ecosystem: An Integrated One Health–One Welfare Analysis

first_pagesettingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessReview Mussel Mortality Events and Changes in the Mediterranean Sea Ecosystem: An Integrated One Health–One Welfare Analysis by Claudia Carbonara 1,Maria Antonietta Colonna 2ORCID,Francesco Giannico 2ORCID,Luca Pozzato 3ORCID,Michela Cariglia 3,Nicola Faccilongo 4ORCID,Simona Tarricone 2,*ORCID andMarco Ragni 2ORCID 1 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy 2 Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy 3 Aquacloud S.r.l., Via L. Da Vinci 2/C, 39100 Bolzano, Italy 4 Department of Economy, University of Foggia, Via R. Caggese, 71121 Foggia, Italy * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Fishes 2026, 11(3), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11030190 Submission received: 7 February 2026 / Revised: 13 March 2026 / Accepted: 17 March 2026 / Published: 21 March 2026 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Shellfish Aquaculture) Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract The Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, is currently facing unprecedented mass mortality events (MMEs) that threaten the economic and ecological stability of Mediterranean aquaculture. The present review gathered and analyzed current knowledge on climate change and environmental disorders that may cause MMEs in Mediterranean mussels, compromising mussel physiology and immune competence. Biological agents, which proliferate under stress conditions, can either trigger direct disease or act as co-factors in mortality. The impact of the economic loss following MMEs in mussel production in the Mediterranean Sea is also described. The main key drivers used in the analysis of the literature were “M. galloprovincialis”, “MMEs”, “environmental stressors”, “climate change”, “pathogens”, “pollutants”, “economical losses”. The One Health–One Welfare framework recognizes the inextricable interconnection between the health of human, mussel, and marine ecosystems. This approach is essential for developing holistic monitoring programs, robust risk assessment strategies, and adaptive management policies capable of ensuring the long-term sustainability of Mediterranean mussel production and the ecological stability of coastal systems. In the future, the development of integrated water monitoring systems where mussels are both farmed species and active biological sentinels is possible. The implementation of a digital monitoring system will offer a transformative strategy for mitigating MMEs in Mediterranean mussel populations.