Ireland has reported twice, under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive, on the conservation status of the freshwater pearl mussel. On both occasions, the species was found to be in unfavourable bad and declining status. The summary report and more detailed assessment of conservation status for the period 2001-2006 can be found in NPWS (2008) and for 2007-2012 in NPWS (2013).
The species is unfavourable bad status in the five EU biogeographic regions in which it occurs, and declining in all but the Alpine Region. See species summary for further information on EU conservation status, and State of Nature in the EU and EIONET website for further information on Article 17 Reports.