The installation of hard substrates with oyster spat is a new and innovative method for oyster restoration. Oyster larvae attach themselves to hard substrates, such…
Shellfish reefs
Impact beyond the food chain: shellfish increase water quality, offer coastal protection and boost species diversity.
Reef builders in Offshore Wind Farms
Most of our shellfish reef solutions target restoration of oyster and mussel beds in Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs) and around offshore infrastructure. Almost all natural reefs in European waters have disappeared due to overfishing, diseases and climate change. OWFs offer a unique opportunity to restore these ecosystems, as they contain hard substrates - mainly rocks that are installed on the seabed - on which shellfish larvae prefer to settle, and as the areas are relatively undisturbed, having few fishing activities or vessel movements.
We develop and install innovative solutions for the introduction of live material, mainly concerning rehabilitation of the European flat oyster, and for habitat creation through eco-design of scour protection and cable crossings to boost biodiversity by attracting target species. We do so in collaboration with energy companies, research institutes and the private sector.
Our solutions
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The value of shellfish reef ecosystems
Coastal Protection
Shellfish reefs function as a naturally growing climate adaptive barrier. Growing close to the surface, they decrease coastal erosion by trapping sediment and stabilising shorelines. Big areas of shellfish, like oyster reefs or mussel beds, can also absorb wave and wind energy, and therefore offer coastal protection.
Biodiversity
Shellfish such as oysters and mussels create favourable habitat conditions for other species (e.g. sharks, rays, cod, sea bass and lobsters) by building reef structures. They extract excess nitrogen from oceans, preventing algal blooms and oxygen-depleted dead zones, creating perfect conditions for the increase of species abundance. Photo: Waardenburg Ecology – Udo van Dongen
Water filtration
As filter feeders, shellfish filter organic and inorganic particles from the water. An oysters or mussel can filter between 2 to 8 liters of water per hour. The impact of the presence of an oyster reef or mussel bed on local water clarity is therefore very significant. Considering nutrient removal, shellfish are particularly effective for absorbing nitrogen.
Global natural oyster habitats
