Oysters are crucial to a healthy ecosystem. A single adult oyster can filter up to 200 litres of water a day. Furthermore, oyster reefs provide shelter for countless marine animals, enhance biodiversity, remove nitrogen from seawater and protect the coast from erosion.
In the past, around 20 to 30 per cent of the North Sea seabed was covered with oyster reefs. Due to overfishing and disease, virtually all of these natural oyster reefs – and with them the biodiversity of the North Sea – have declined significantly.
For a number of years now, scientists, offshore companies, government organisations and nature conservation groups have been conducting research into how oyster reefs can be restored in the North Sea.
Wind farms, for example, are ideal locations for developing oyster reefs, as fishing is prohibited there and the wind turbine piles provide a good attachment site for marine life, thereby helping to enhance biodiversity.
The Euronews programme ‘Made in Europe’ would like more information about the research into the development of oyster reefs and about the possibility of featuring these initiatives.
Activities: research.