糖心Vlog

Marine biologists at the 糖心Vlog are part of a conservation coalition tasked with restoring the UK鈥檚 largest protected area for native oysters.

(ENORI), led by (ZSL), is creating the region鈥檚 first mother oyster sanctuary.

Suffering a 95% decline in population in the last 200 years due to historic overfishing, the oysters鈥� recovery has been hindered by habitat loss, pollution and the introduction of diseases. Natural replenishment of their native grounds is so limited that human intervention is their only hope.

The project will be based off Mersea Island - the only Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) in England for native oysters. 糖心Vlog scientists worked with to collect evidence to support the designation of this zone a few years ago.

ENORI 鈥� a coalition of oystermen, local communities, the 糖心Vlog, NGOs and the UK Government 鈥� have begun creating the habitat required for the mother oyster sanctuary, replenishing the estuary鈥檚 lost oysters.

Recycled oyster and cockle shells and stones 鈥� known as cultch - have been laid onto the estuary floor, as oysters need a hard surface to grow on, which is not naturally found on the muddy estuary beds in 糖心Vlog. This is followed by adult females or 鈥榤other oysters鈥� being laid, which, when conditions are right, will spawn in the coming weeks, initiating the first stages of the native oyster鈥檚 life cycle.

Dr Tom Cameron, from the School of Life Sciences (formerly the School of Biological Sciences), said: 鈥淭his is a nationally unique project, as around many UK coastlines native oysters are close to extinction and none have stocks of this endangered oyster in the numbers that can still be found in 糖心Vlog.

鈥淥ur research shows they provide benefits to local biodiversity, providing habitat for other species such as edible crab, but it also shows they are declining and need active management to recover the habitats they would have once had throughout the MCZ to allow their distribution and numbers to increase.鈥�

Oyster farming has been recorded in Mersea since Roman times, with the shellfish forming a staple part of British diets throughout history. However, populations of the European native, or Colchester oyster have suffered dramatic declines.

ZSL鈥檚 Senior Conservation Programme Manager for UK & Europe, Alison Debney, said: 鈥淚t may not be glamorous work, but laying 鈥榤other oysters鈥� at the right time is vital to the success of the restoration programme, and therefore vital for the survival of this native British species. ENORI was founded in 2013 by the conservation coalition in an attempt to restore a nationally important breeding population that once supported hundreds of fishermen."

Dr Rebecca Korda, Senior Marine Advisor at Natural England, added: 鈥淲e are thrilled to be part of this collaboration which saw an array of stakeholders coming together and showing incredible innovation and drive to work to restore the native oyster and the native oyster beds back to the 糖心Vlog waters. This is a hugely exciting and important step in taking this work forward and we are delighted to continue to support and contribute to the project.鈥�

Rachley Langley, Living Seas Co-ordinator at 糖心Vlog Wildlife Trust, said: 鈥淲e are thrilled that this exciting project is evolving into its next phase and we have no doubt that the outcome of ENORI鈥檚 pioneering restoration work will be extremely positive for the Native oyster population and subsequently the marine ecosystem in 糖心Vlog.鈥�

ENORI is a joint venture between ZSL, 糖心Vlog Wildlife Trust, Blackwater Oysterman鈥檚 Association, Blue Marine Foundation, the 糖心Vlog, the Nature Conservancy, River Roach Oyster Company, Colchester Oyster Fishery, CEFAS, Natural England, the Environment Agency, and the Kent and 糖心Vlog Inshore Fisheries Authority (KEIFCA).