One of a kind oyster reef launched in Northern Ireland
The new reef is designed to help European oysters breed in a safe and controlled environment but mimics the natural habitat of the sea creatures
- Published
A special floating reef, designed to help oysters grow, has been launched in Northern Ireland.
The reef, which floats on the water at Glenarm Marina in County Antrim, is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and is already helping thousands of young oysters thrive.
The project has been created by conservation charity Ulster Wildlife, which, among other projects, is working to bring back the European flat oyster.
This type of oyster was once common around the coast, but its numbers dropped dramatically because of over fishing (which means catching lots of fish too quickly without allowing them to repopulate), pollution, disease and the loss of natural habitats.
The floating reef is home to around 10,000 baby oysters, known as spat, as well as about 200 adult oysters.
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Why are oysters so important?
The European oysters have been growing attached to scallop shells to help them thrive
Experts describe oysters as "ecosystem engineers" because they can help create healthier seas.
They filter the sea as they feed, which can improve water quality.
Oyster reefs also provide shelter for lots of other marine creatures, helping to increase biodiversity, which means a greater variety of plants and animals living in one area.
The new floating, artificial reef has been designed to be like a natural one.
Instead of being built on the seabed, it floats on the surface, creating a safe place where oysters can grow and reproduce.
The project hasn't been going long but early results have been encouraging, with more than 80% of the oysters surviving so far.
A spy-cam shows it's not just helping the oysters
The new floating reef is a man-made one of a kind structure which allows marine experts to keep an eye on the oyster numbers within it
To find out which creatures are visiting the reef, scientists installed a special underwater camera system nearby.
The camera records activity day and night and has already spotted thousands of animals interacting with the structure.
In just three months, it recorded more than 7,000 wildlife sightings.
Visitors included small fish called gobies and seabirds like black guillemots.
The recordings are helping conservationists learn more about how oyster reefs support wildlife and why they are important for healthy oceans.
Scientists say restoring oyster reefs could bring benefits beyond helping oysters themselves.
