50,000 native European flat oysters are set to be reintroduced to the Humber estuary over the next five years as a new wildlife project along the East Yorkshire coast. The method aims to help tackle pollution in the waterways. The latest restoration project is said to be the ‘first of its kind in the UK’.
A single oyster can filter and clean 44 gallons (200 litres) of water daily. Overfishing, disease and reduction in water quality led to the decline of the once thriving oyster reef, which used to be so large it was listed as a shipping hazard, the BBC reports.
Wilder Humber is a collab between Yorkshire and Lincolnshire wildlife trusts with offshore wind company Ørsted.
But, how will they reintroduce the oysters back into the area?
A new method is being tested, where oyster larvae are placed in a tank filled with scallop shells. the larvae then attach themselves to the shells, which are then transferred to an oyster nursery at Spurn Point to grow, before being released into the Humber
Cleaning up the water isn’t the oyster’s online job though. The oyster beds once established will help provide a habitat for other marine wildlife.
Dr Nik Sachlikidis, CEO of The Oyster Restoration Company said: “We are taking a major step towards scalable onshore and offshore deployment that will significantly enhance biodiversity.”
“The positive impact of native oysters on marine ecology is profound, and together, we are paving the way for further native oyster restoration projects, ensuring a healthier and more resilient environment for the future.”
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Feature Image Credit: Finn Varney/ YWT
