THE NATIVE OYSTER
Native Oysters provide us with a range of both economic and environmental benefits.
Water Quality
Oysters filter algae and organic matter from the water column, which can significantly improve surrounding water quality by decreasing the turbidity (a measure of the amount of suspended material in the liquid).
Increased Biodiversity of Species
The unique 3-dimensional habitats created by native oysters support a higher biodiversity of species than the surrounding sediment/seabed. By providing a structure colonised by algae tunicates, sponges, crabs, crustaceans and ascidians
Nursery Habitat for Fish
Oyster reefs can increase fish abundance and biodiversity by providing a protected nursery ground for juvenile fish, refuge from predation and a source of food resulting from the associated biodiversity.
Reduce Nitrogen Levels
Oysters have the ability to remove excess nutrients from water, particularly nitrogen, which at high levels can be detrimental to the environment by promoting harmful algal blooms, depleting oxygen and fish death.
Cultural Value
Native oyster fishing and cultivation have formed the heart of coastal communities in the UK and can be traced back to Roman-times.
The reproductive cycle
Our oysters will breed over the summer months, but the numbers in the baskets will stay the same, as the tiny young are released out into the wild. All oysters start their lives as males, transitioning to females as they mature (and if conditions are suitable).
After a male releases his gametes (sperm), they will be taken up by a female to internally fertilse her eggs, which she will then release into the water column. A single oyster can produce around a million babies, 'spat', each breeding season.
These spat will float around for about three weeks as free-swimming larva looking for a suitable place to settle – on a piece of shell in water with the correct physical and chemical properties. Once settled the oysters will quickly grow.
