Restoring Oysters in the Humber Estuary
Oyster reefs are key to promoting a healthy marine environment - with huge benefit to coastal communities
Introduction
Running since 2023, this fantastic project from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust aims to reintroduce oysters to the Humber estuary - helping to revitalise the area's once thriving oyster population.
The Mission
The Wilder Humber project has a clear goal to reintroduce 500,000 oysters to the river's estuary over the course of a five year period.
Using a method never seen before in the UK, the initiative sees the Trust join forces with The Nature Conservancy and The Oyster Restoration Company to help deliver the exciting project. Here's how:
- Adult oysters spawned in north-west Scotland will produce millions of tiny larvae - that will then be transported to a nature reserve in Kilnsea, Yorkshire
- The larvae will be introduced to a tank with scallop shells, where they will settle on the shells over the course of three days - becoming permanently attached
- These shells and attached larvae will then be held at the reserve, with the team keeping track of their growth and development - up until the point they are ready to be introduced to the Humber estuary
If successful, it's expected the method will then be repeated across the UK in collaboration with other organisations - helping to restore oyster populations and marine ecosystems along our coastlines.
The benefits of oyster restoration can often be overlooked - but include:
- Oyster reefs support a wide range of marine life, acting as a breeding ground for various species
- The oysters serve as very effective water filters - increasing water clarity and reducing the volumes of excess nutrients
- Safeguarding coastal communities by restricting wave energy and protecting against erosion
The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
At Meaningful Planet, we're proud to work directly with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to help fund initiatives like the restoration of oysters in the Humber.
With each and every bill, our customers are making a tangible difference to the environment - fighting climate change and restoring our natural habitat for current and future generations.
