The consortium of companies, researchers and conservation groups says the initiative could support large-scale restoration of oyster reefs in the North Sea.
Photo: De Rijke Noordze.
At least 500,000 flat oysters are set to be introduced into the Port of Rotterdam on 2 September as part of a trial designed to combine marine infrastructure with ecosystem recovery.
The project, which involves nine partner organisations including dredging and marine contractor Van Oord and seabed restoration non-profit De Rijke Noordzee, is presented as a step towards restoring oyster reefs in the North Sea, which have largely vanished due to overfishing, pollution and disease.
The approach being tested is known as the "remote setting" method. According to the consortium, oyster larvae are reared in a hatchery before being transferred to containers of seawater and rocks placed in a harbour. Within days, the larvae attach to the rocks and develop into juveniles. After several weeks, the containers are loaded onto vessels and the oyster-bearing rocks are released at sea.
Researchers involved in the pilot will monitor how many of the oysters survive and grow over the coming months. If the method is successful, the group claims it could provide a cost-effective way of linking oyster reef restoration with the construction and maintenance of offshore wind farms, breakwaters, subsea cables and other marine structures.
The team is also investigating whether the sounds of reefs influence oyster settlement, with the possibility of using these acoustic cues to improve survival rates.
“Thanks to close collaboration, our consortium has been able to deliver and implement a major innovation. I’m extremely proud of that. It holds promise for scaling up nature restoration in the North Sea and may have a significant positive impact in years to come," said Nienke Oostenbrink, Pilot Lead and Business Developer for Van Oord Ocean Health, via a press release announcing the initiative.
The project highlights the ecological role of oyster reefs, which form dense structures that provide habitat for marine life while filtering water and cycling nutrients. Vera Bánki, Programme Director at seabed restoration non-profit De Rijke Noordzee, described oysters as "the silent engineers of a healthy aquatic ecosystem".
"Restoring the reefs is no luxury, it’s a necessity. I am hopeful that we can restore the reefs using this innovation," she added.
The initiative brings together nine organisations: Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University & Research, ARK Rewilding Nederland, Stichting Zeeschelp, Waardenburg Ecology, Van Oord Ocean Health, TenneT, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and De Rijke Noordzee.
The consortium has spent the past three years refining the remote setting technique, the partners said. A second trial at a TenneT cable crossing in the open sea is planned for next year.