🌟The Bright Side: Belgium uses shipwreck to revive rare North Sea oysters
The mollusc has mostly disappeared from the North Sea due to human activity including overfishing.
Now, a Belgian project is trying to reintroduce it in a move scientists believe will help boost other marine species.
"We have to bring them back because they are essential elements in our marine ecosystems," Vicky Stratigaki, an engineer working on the restoration project, told AFP.
In mid-July, a load of 200,000 oyster larvae attached to biodegradable materials was deposited 30 metres under the sea in the ship's hull.
The environmental project, named "Belreefs", aims to turn the wreckage into a biodiversity sanctuary.
Flat oysters form reefs that purify water and that other sea animals, from fish to algae, use as breeding and feeding grounds, explained Stratigaki.
"There is a lot of predation in the sea, it's a wild environment," she said, with about 30,000 of the oyster larvae expected to survive their first year at sea.
"Then they will start reproducing, extending the reef and also supporting the biodiversity of the reef."
Watch more Oysters in hot water: Pollution and poaching threaten production
The laying of the oyster stash is the culmination of two years' work for the Belgian government project, which is supported by European Union funding.
"Until around the 1850s, the North Sea and the European waters were full of these oyster reefs," Stratigaki explained.
Then overfishing, the spreading of an imported parasite called Bonamia and "climatic adverse effects" caused them to disappear, she said.
The 1906 wreckage, located about 30 kilometres off the coastal city of Ostend, was selected to house the pilot as fishing and other disruptive activities are banned around it.
"In Belgium every wreck that is for more than one hundred years on the sea bottom gets protected automatically as cultural heritage, because it's nice for divers to go there," said Merel Oeyen, a marine environment expert at the Belgian ministry of health.
"It's also a hot spot for biodiversity".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sustainability Times
3 days ago
- Sustainability Times
'They'd Rather We Stay Dependent': Leaked Docs Reveal Elites Blocking 200-Million-Ton Power Vault That Could End Energy Poverty Forever
IN A NUTSHELL 🌍 Natural hydrogen found in an Albanian mine could redefine sustainable energy sources. found in an Albanian mine could redefine sustainable energy sources. 🔬 This discovery suggests a shift from skyward energy solutions like solar and wind to underground resources. ⚠️ The presence of unique ecosystems in these hydrogen-rich zones requires cautious exploration. 🔋 Combining this find with Europe's green hydrogen efforts could revolutionize clean energy production. In the ongoing quest for sustainable energy, much focus has been directed towards the sky, with solar panels and wind turbines becoming emblematic of green innovation. Yet, a groundbreaking discovery suggests that the future of clean energy might not be above us but beneath our very feet. An international team of scientists has uncovered a significant natural hydrogen reservoir in a deep chromite mine in Albania. This finding has the potential to redefine how we perceive energy resources and could be a pivotal moment in the ongoing energy revolution. We've Been Looking Up for Answers but Maybe the Future Was Beneath Us All Along For decades, the pursuit of sustainable energy has been synonymous with harnessing power from the sky. Solar panels have transformed rooftops into mini power stations, and wind turbines have reshaped landscapes with their majestic blades. The race to capture renewable energy has largely been an aerial endeavor, driven by the promise of endless resources from the sun and wind. However, the recent discovery of a natural hydrogen reservoir challenges this upward gaze. Deep within a chromite mine in Albania, scientists have stumbled upon a spring that does not release water but hydrogen. This almost pure hydrogen flow, estimated at over 220 tons per year, represents the largest natural release of the gas ever recorded. This revelation is not just a geological curiosity but a potential paradigm shift in energy sourcing, suggesting that what could power our future has been lying underground all along. 'Nuclear Fusion Just Got Real': Scientists Unveil Breakthrough That Could Deliver Endless Clean Energy and Erase Fossil Fuel Dependency The Hidden Jacuzzi, the Gas Leak, and the Quiet Energy Revolution This discovery marks an energy milestone, providing concrete evidence of naturally occurring hydrogen reservoirs. Unlike traditional methods of hydrogen production, which are costly and carbon-intensive, these underground reserves offer a ready-made, high concentration source of hydrogen. Drilling at the Bulqizë mine revealed that specific geological fault zones release this gas, hinting at a natural system that has been operating for millennia. Hydrogen has long been heralded as the 'fuel of the future.' Yet, its production has been hampered by the need for energy-intensive processes like electrolysis or methane combustion. The Albanian find changes this narrative, offering a glimpse into a natural, clean hydrogen source that bypasses these carbon-emitting processes. This revelation could spark a quiet energy revolution, providing a sustainable alternative that has been hiding in plain sight. 'This Device Slashes Bills Instantly': Tech Giant Reveals Breakthrough Energy System That Could Cut Costs for 40 Million U.S. Homes But Before the Hype — A Fragile Biosphere, and a Geological Clock Ticking Slowly While the discovery is exciting, it is crucial to temper this enthusiasm with caution. Geological hydrogen is not a renewable resource in the short term; it forms over millions of years, yet can be rapidly depleted. Additionally, these deep fault zones are home to unique ecosystems that rely on hydrogen as an energy source, existing in total darkness. Unregulated exploitation of these systems could lead to the destruction of these fragile biospheres. Moreover, the 220 tons of hydrogen extracted annually is minuscule compared to the 100 million tons produced globally. However, the significance lies in the geological model that this discovery represents. Scientists have, for the first time, managed to map and simulate the formation of an underground hydrogen reservoir. This breakthrough forces a reconsideration of Earth's hidden depths as a source of natural, clean energy. Fusion Future Ignited: New Ultra-Precise Laser Technology Could Finally Make Net-Energy Devices a Scalable Global Reality Charting a New Course for Energy Exploration The discovery of natural hydrogen reservoirs offers a new narrative for energy exploration. It suggests that Earth's depths may hold answers to our energy needs, providing a clean and accessible alternative to traditional fossil fuels. However, this potential must be balanced with responsible exploration. The lessons learned from oil extraction remind us of the importance of environmental assessments and scientific ethics. This finding coincides with Europe's underwater energy revolution, where 49,600 tons of green hydrogen are produced annually. Combining these innovations could pave the way for a sustainable future. Yet, it remains imperative to approach this new frontier with caution, ensuring that the pursuit of hydrogen does not repeat the environmental mistakes of the past. As we stand on the brink of a potential energy revolution, the question remains: How can we responsibly harness this newfound underground treasure while preserving the delicate ecosystems that exist within these geological wonders? The answer could redefine our approach to energy for generations to come. This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.4/5 (27)
France 24
4 days ago
- France 24
Notre-Dame gets back St Thomas statue adorning spire base
The statue, three metres (10 feet) tall and weighing 100 kilograms (220 pounds), was unaffected by the blaze, having been removed from the cathedral just days before for routine restoration, along with the other 15. "It's almost a miracle," said Marie-Helene Didier, in charge of historic buildings in the Paris region. "It's a very powerful symbol to see all the statues up there," she told AFP. After receiving a blessing from the archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, it was heaved on the spire's base by crane. The statue, currently hidden behind by scaffolding around the spire, will be fully visible by the end of August. Notre-Dame nearly burned down in 2019, but was fully renovated inside and fitted with a new roof and spire during a frenzied five-year refit. It held its first mass since the blaze in December, and reopened to the public shortly after. The 16 statues, representing the 12 apostles as well the four evangelists in the Catholic tradition, were designed in 1857 by Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, the architect of the spire, and sculpted by Adolphe-Victor Geoffroy-Dechaume. Geoffroy-Dechaume gave the statue of Saint Thomas, patron saint of architects, the features of Viollet-le-Duc. The exact cause of the 2019 blaze has never been identified despite a forensic investigation, which pointed to a likely accident such as an electrical fault.
France 24
4 days ago
- France 24
Environment : Tracing Darwin's footsteps through modern ecological discovery
01:54 23/07/2025 Failing to protect the planet from climate change could violate international law Environment 15/07/2025 'Whole range of factors: environmental, human and societal, contributing to worsening of disasters' Environment 10/07/2025 As Marseille reels from early summer wildfire, France rolls back environmental protections Europe 09/07/2025 Recent European heatwave caused 2,300 deaths, scientists estimate Environment 07/07/2025 Texas deadly floods: A state 'can't deal with this scale of disaster' without federal resources Americas 30/06/2025 Stocamine in Alsace: 'Toxicity of chemical waste won't disappear, nobody knows how to deal with it' France 20/06/2025 'Collective problem needs collective solution: Global warming projected to increase well beyond 2°' Environment 12/06/2025 Climate change disrupting species' habitats and altering both productivity and seasonality Environment 11/06/2025 'Protecting our oceans: Behavioural change comes from laws and changing of the system' Environment
