Project Aim: Species restoration
The Tees Rivers Trust works to improve water quality and habitats along the length of the River Tees with the Tees Estuary Restoration Initiative focussing on the marine side. As part of this, the Trust launched a project to reintroduce native oysters (Ostrea edulis) to the Tees estuary and surrounding coastline. In the early 1900s the Tees Estuary had a thriving oyster fishery which was lost due to land reclamation and declining water quality. Tees Rivers Trust are investigating the survivability of native oysters in tees coastal waters and the viability of larger scale restoration in the area. The long-term aim is for the tees to once again house a self-sustaining oyster population.
Since 2022 the trust has had 25 Oyster nurseries housing 750 Oysters location in Hartlepool. 150 volunteers have been involved in monthly monitoring sessions recording over 50 species living within and around the oyster nurseries. There is an annual survival rate of over 90% within the nurseries showing water quality in the area has improved enough for oysters to survive.
The Trust is also trialling the use of spatting ponds to produce spat on substrate which can be deployed as part of a reef. In the first year they produced 5000 spat on shell and are now looking at alternative substrates as well as methods to improve settlement rate.
WHO IS INVOLVED?
partners
