More than 1,000 oysters begin their important work as they are returned to the River Conwy

On March 25, the Pioneer reported that about 4,000 mature oysters were being installed in six harbours across the North East of England, Wales and Scotland as part of the Wild Oyster Project.

The ambitious scheme aims to bring back the ‘ocean superheroes’ from the brink of extinction

In a bid to restore native oyster populations, and in turn see the return of healthy coastal waters, nurseries filled with Oysters will be suspended underneath marina pontoons in Conwy Marina and Deganwy Marina of the River Conwy.

Celine and Maria sorting the oysters

The nurseries create a micro habitat acting as a maternity ward to the next generation of oysters. These oysters will begin reproducing over the next few months, releasing millions of baby oysters, known as larvae, into the ocean.

Celine Gamble, Wild Oysters Project Manager at ZSL, said: “Conwy Bay is a designated Special Area of Conservation with unique underwater habitats and important marine plants and wildlife, making it the perfect location to restore 1,300 native oysters into protective nurseries to help habitats thrive.

“Now the oysters are in their new home in the marinas, they will almost immediately begin their important work each filtering 200 litres of water a day. In the coming months the oysters will start to produce the next generation of the oyster population, by releasing larvae which will then be carried out by the water hydrodynamics and settle onto the seabed. In turn we hope that the project will help to create cleaner water, healthier fisheries and plentiful marine biodiversity in Britain.”

1,300 native oysters have been installed in the waters

The Wild Oysters Project is a partnership between ZSL (Zoological Society of London), Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE) and British Marine.

The project has partnered locally with the School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University, a local project officer will help to monitor and care for the newly placed oysters as part of The Wild Oysters Project.

Oysters will be suspended underneath marina pontoons. All pictures: ZSL

Maria Hayden-Hughes, local project officer for the Wild Oysters Project, said: “Native oyster populations, local to Conwy Bay in the Menai Strait near Caernarfon and Bangor, were highly prevalent in 18th and 19th century, with Welsh oyster boats reportedly landing 8,000 oysters daily. We know that oysters once thrived in the local area, forming an important part of the local marine ecosystem, now we have the opportunity to restore native oyster populations which will provide important ecosystem services.

“Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery we hope to see healthy, resilient, coastal waters in Conwy Bay and make a remarkable difference to the future of wild oysters. They are the superheroes of our oceans.”

Local Project Officer for the Wild Oysters Project, Maria Hayden-Hughes.

The project, which spans the UK, has now installed 94 of 141 planned nurseries underneath marina pontoons across Wales and North East of England.

Laura Chow, head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “With just a few known native oyster populations remaining in Wales the release of the project’s native oysters into Conwy Bay marinas is a huge milestone, all possible thanks to the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

“Oysters are an important part of our ecosystem and the Wild Oysters project will not only support our oceans but help educate and share the importance of these ocean superheroes with thousands of volunteers, school and university students, and local community groups.”