Seawilding is a Scottish charity based in Loch Craignish, Argyll, and Loch Broom in Wester Ross. They are pioneering community-led projects to restore native oysters and seagrass.
Both Loch Craignish and Loch Broom once supported large populations of native oysters, but due to human predation, only a few remain. Seawilding’s goal is to re-establish self-sustaining oyster populations in these lochs.
The charity grows oysters in a nursery using a series of floating cages until they are large enough to survive natural predation from starfish and crabs when released to the sea floor. Their Loch Craignish nursery can produce up to 300,000 oysters annually, while the Loch Broom site has a capacity of 100,000.
Seawilding also supplies other restoration projects with native oyster stock.
Before releasing the oysters, Seawilding conducts extensive baseline surveys to identify the best sites, taking into account substrate, shelter, and depth. At low spring tide, community volunteers help broadcast the oysters by hand into the shallows. Many volunteers are trained in baseline surveying, coastal biodiversity monitoring, and oyster restoration, allowing them to contribute valuable data throughout the year.
After five years, Seawilding is now seeing clear signs of successful oyster recruitment, particularly in Loch Craignish where the project began.
Seawilding also engages local children, inviting primary school students to visit their “oyster hoisters” where they can measure oyster growth, record local biodiversity, and explore marine life up close.
WHO IS INVOLVED?
partners
