Project Aim: Species restoration
The Wild Oysters Project: Tyne and Wear is working to restore the locally extinct native oyster to North East England. In the 1800s, oysters were woven into local culture, with oyster saloons in Tynemouth, specialist fish markets in South Shields, and even Oystershell Hall in Newcastle. Today, both the reefs and that cultural connection have disappeared.
Our goal is to restore native oysters locally to levels where self-sustaining reefs can thrive. In 2023, we created an offshore reef near Sunderland, deploying 10,000 adult oysters on a bed of 750 tonnes of scallop shell and stone, piloting a traditional restoration method in new conditions (open exposed coast). In 2025, we trialled a novel multi-method approach at a nearby site, adding 20 reef cubes (6 tonnes each), 4,000 mature oysters, 35,000 juveniles as “spat-on-shell,” and 40 tonnes of scallop shell cultch.
We also maintain oyster nurseries in Sunderland Marina, where 800 broodstock oysters release hundreds of millions of oyster larvae every year into coastal waters during the summer breeding season. These nurseries form the heart of our outreach programme, engaging communities and inspiring action for oyster restoration.
WHO IS INVOLVED?
partners
