The Oyster Restoration Company, known for its dedication to revitalising oyster populations, is proud to supply oysters for the innovative Wilder Humber project. As part of this groundbreaking effort, oyster larvae will be transported from the company’s hatchery in Aultbea, Scotland, with two members of the team accompanying them on the journey to ensure their safe arrival.
Wilder Humber is making history as the first UK project to trial remote setting, a novel method for restoring native European flat oysters (Ostrea edulis). Once abundant in the Humber estuary, these oyster populations have been severely depleted due to overfishing, poor water quality, and disease. Records suggest that one historic oyster reef spanned over 300 acres, but today, the native oysters are fragmented and isolated, hindering natural recovery.
Restoring these oyster reefs is critical for the health of marine and estuarine ecosystems. Oyster reefs provide a range of ecological benefits, including water filtration, which helps maintain cleaner seas, and habitat creation, offering shelter and breeding grounds for diverse marine species. Moreover, oyster reefs act as natural barriers, reducing wave energy and protecting coastlines from erosion, which benefits both marine life and coastal communities.
Launched in spring 2023, Wilder Humber aims to reintroduce 500,000 oysters into the Humber estuary over the next five years, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and The Oyster Restoration Company. Unlike traditional methods that involve placing juvenile and adult oysters directly onto the seabed—often leading to transportation stress, high costs, and low survival rates—this partnership is pioneering the use of remote setting to enhance oyster restoration efforts.
Dr. Nik Sachlikidis, CEO of The Oyster Restoration Company, explained, "This innovative approach allows us to produce oyster larvae closer to their eventual home, minimising stress and improving survival rates.
“Collaborating with mission-aligned partners on Wilder Humber is a win for sustainable restoration in the UK, safeguarding Native Oysters from the brink of extinction. Together, we will shape the future of the Humber.”
In this trial, adult oysters are spawned at The Oyster Restoration Company’s hatchery, producing millions of larvae. These larvae are then carefully transported to Spurn Point National Nature Reserve, where they will be introduced into tanks filled with scallop shells. Over three days, the larvae will attach to the shells, forming a bond that prepares them for life on the seabed. The shells, now carrying the settled larvae, will be monitored at an oyster nursery until the young oysters are ready to be released into the Humber estuary.
Laura Welton, Wilder Humber’s Native Oyster Restoration Officer, emphasised the advantages of remote setting: “By reducing transportation stress and cultivating oysters closer to their final destination, we’re improving the likelihood of successful restoration while also lowering costs.”
The remote setting trial is a key milestone in the ambitious Wilder Humber project, which aims to restore the region's biodiversity and protect its fragile ecosystems. Wilder Humber is delivered through a pioneering partnership between Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, and Ørsted, combining efforts in sand dune, saltmarsh, seagrass, and native oyster restoration to maximise conservation benefits across the seascape.
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