Hopes reef cubes will help rebuild native oyster population

CONCRETE-LIKE "cubes" housing 4,000 oysters have been placed in the North Sea to shield the species from storms and tidal surges.

- KATHRYN RIDDELL, REBECCA SPEARE-COLE

Marine conservationists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and nature charity Groundwork have released 20 specialised oyster reef cubes, constructed from six tonnes of seawater-resistant concrete alternative, Marine Crete, off the coast of Tyne and Wear.

The team are testing their use as ballasts to secure the native European oysters to the seabed - marking the first time that this method has been used on such a scale in the UK. The project's goal is to aid oysters in reviving their reefs in the North Sea, which will in turn enhance coastal water quality and biodiversity in the region.

A single adult oyster can filter around 200 litres of water - equivalent to a bath-full - each day, and their reefs can support other species by providing a habitat for a variety of fish, crabs and shrimps. However, native oyster reefs vanished from the region over a century ago, while habitat loss, over-harvesting, pollution and disease have led to a decline in numbers of more than 95% across the UK since the 1800s, according to the conservationists.

These latest efforts are part of a five-year restoration and conservation project aiming to rejuvenate marine life in the Tyne and Wear area.