We press for the creation of marine reserves, establish new

models of sustainable fishing and restore marine habitats.

To reverse the crisis of overfishing and restore healthy ocean ecosystems.

To press for the creation of marine reserves.

To create new models of sustainable fishing.

BLUE MARINE FOUNDATION SOLENT INTRO

A European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) or native oyster (with a sea cucumber perched on top)

• European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) or native oyster

• They are ’ecosystem engineers’

• Provide a number of important ecosystem services

Oysters have supported booming, valuable fisheries

• Solent: 15 million oysters were landed in 1978

• Europe’s largest self sustaining fishery

‘It was a bold man that fist ate on oyster’Jonathan Swift, 1700s

BLUE MARINE FOUNDATION SOLENT INTRO

BLUE MARINE FOUNDATION SOLENT INTRO

Project set up in 2015

BLUE is working with multiple partners and stakeholders

‘Working group’ helps guide project

Oysters are laid onto protectedseabed sanctuary sites in orderto increase oyster numbersand promote naturalsettlement.

Seabed Restoration

BLUE MARINE FOUNDATION THE RIVER HAMBLE

The River Hamble

• University of Portsmouth and RHHA

• Initial trial of 30,000 oysters

• Scaling to up to a million oysters

BLUE MARINE FOUNDATION THE RIVER HAMBLE

PermissionsBLUE MARINE FOUNDATION THE RIVER HAMBLE

Baseline survey

• Two part survey to assess the ‘biotope’ of the seabed

• Inform relaying locations and method

• Provide information for permissions

BLUE MARINE FOUNDATION THE HAMBLE RIVER

Relaying method

30,000 oysters

Oysters laid bare onto the seabed

Laid at three sites along the River

Laid at three densities

BLUE MARINE FOUNDATION THE RIVER HAMBLE

Monitoring

Before/after comparison

Oyster ‘strings’ assess growth and mortality

Re-grab sample will look at biotope change

BLUE MARINE FOUNDATION THE RIVER HAMBLE

Future Trial will inform relaying methods and scaling up of future relaying

First site in Solent

One of the largest oyster restoration projects in Europe

BLUE MARINE FOUNDATION THE RIVER HAMBLE

FOLLOW THE STORY

TWITTER: @solentnativeINSTAGRAM: solentoysterFACEBOOK: /SolentOysterRestorationProject

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