Atlantic Shellfish Ltd, has been breeding Ostrea edulis since 1970, using a series of 22 ponds lined with rubber. In 1987 Rossmore Oysters were detected with Bonamia, and an estimated 13m oysters were lost to the disease, a 98% mortality. From the 2% survivors, oysters were used again to breed, and again most died due to Bonamia, but over the next 32 years, only the strongest survivors were used, so that by the mid 1990’s, 80 – 100 tonnes of marketable oysters were sold every year.
It is the intention now to continue to breed strong native oysters to supply the European restaurant market.
