Artificial reef aims to bring wild oysters back
Bangor University have been given permission to proceed to the final stage of the project and "reseed" a 660-tonne artificial reef.
Harbourmaster Matthew Forbes said the project would "finally move towards completion" with the first distribution run set to take place on Friday.
Wild oysters, once a major part of Wales's fishing industry, have been in decline as a result of over-fishing, changes in water quality, and disease.
It was first reported in July 2023 that Bangor University was working with the Zoological Society of London to reintroduce wild oysters into the waters.
Conwy Council's Harbour Advisory Committee met this week for an update on the project.
Speaking at the meeting, harbourmaster Matthew Forbes said the reef was initially "above the marine licensed permitted height".
"Over the last couple of years, storms have knocked the reef height down," he added.
Mr Forbes said Natural Resources Wales had agreed the project could now move forward and 76 bags of oysters were ready to be distributed.
Meeting chairwoman Joan Vaughan said it would be "lovely" to have oysters in the River Conwy.
Native oysters used to be found around Conwy in large numbers but have virtually disappeared in recent years.
Oyster beds were a common sight in the Menai Strait and around Anglesey.
The Wild Oysters Project website said they were a "vital food source" for coastal communities and "contributed" to the Welsh economy.
The Mumbles or 'Oystermouth' fishery was the largest in Wales supporting 400 fishers across 188 boats.
In the mid-1800s Welsh oyster boats reported landing 8,000 oysters daily, but up to 15,000 to 20,000 oysters in some areas.
The efforts to reintroduce the shellfish in Wales follow a pattern of declining numbers in other parts of the UK.
A wildlife project on the East Yorkshire coast is testing a new breeding technique to reintroduce 500,000 native European flat oysters over the next five years.
It was also mooted that oysters could return to the Thames as part of an effort to clean London's rivers last year.
Mass oyster release aims to stop species dying out
New breeding technique aims to bring back oysters
Baby oysters move from maternity ward to nursery
https://wild-oysters.org/conwy-bay/
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
2 days ago
- UPI
On This Day, Aug. 14: U.S. reopens embassy in Havana after 54 years
1 of 7 | On August 14, 2015, after 54 years, the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, was re-opened amid a thawing in relations. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of State | License Photo Aug. 14 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1784, Grigory Shelikhov, a Russian fur trader, founded the first permanent Russian settlement in Alaska on Kodiak Island. In 1900, about 2,000 U.S. Marines joined with European forces to capture Beijing, ending the Boxer Rebellion against the Western presence in China. In 1935, the U.S. Congress passed the Social Security Act and President Franklin D. Roosevelt immediately signed it into law. In 1945, U.S. President Harry Truman announced that Japan had accepted terms for unconditional surrender. Japan formally surrendered Sept. 2, officially ending World War II. UPI File Photo In 1959, the satellite Explorer VI transmitted man's first satellite (orbital) view of Earth from space. In 1966, the unmanned U.S. Orbiter 1 spacecraft began orbiting the moon. In 1985, Michael Jackson paid $47 million at auction for the rights to 40,000 songs, including most of the Beatles classics. In 1995, following a long legal battle, Shannon Faulkner was admitted to the cadet corps of the previously all-male Citadel. She resigned from the South Carolina military school four days later. In 2003, a massive power failure spread through Ohio, Michigan, the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, leaving 50 million people in eight states and the province of Ontario without electricity for as long as two days. In 2005, authorities said the crash of a Helios Airways plane in Greece with 121 people aboard could have been caused by a sudden drop in cabin pressure. There were no survivors. In 2006, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon ended in a truce, effective on this date, after 34 days of fighting. File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI In 2013, authorities said hundreds of people were killed and thousands injured in clashes between Egyptian security forces and demonstrators calling for the reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Morsi. In 2014, Major League Baseball owners chose MLB executive Rob Manfred to succeed longtime MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. In 2015, after 54 years, the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, was re-opened amid a thawing in relations. In 2017, about 1,100 people were confirmed dead with hundreds more missing after heavy rains produced a mudslide in Sierra Leone. In 2021, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, leaving more than 2,200 people dead and at least 12,000 injured. In 2023, former President Donald Trump was indicted for a fourth time, this time by a grand jury investigating whether he and 18 other defendants named in the 98-page indictment illegally interfered in the 2020 election in Georgia. In 2024, the World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency after it spread from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to several other countries. File Photo by Chris Milosi/EPA-EFE
Forbes
2 days ago
- Forbes
The 7 Best Baby Gates To Keep Active Babies And Toddlers Safe
Babies don't stay immobile forever, and as soon as your little one starts to scoot and crawl, baby gates become essential to help keep them safe and away from stairs, fireplaces and other potentially dangerous areas. You'll want a sturdy baby gates that your child can't knock down that's also easy enough for adults to pass through without much fiddling. My top pick for the best baby gate, the Cardinal Gates SS30 Stairway Special Baby Gate , is a durable hardware-mounted gate that's adjustable and easy for caregivers to open and close with one hand. The best baby gates are sturdy enough to help keep little ones safe. Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailer Even if your baby isn't quite mobile yet, you'll need a baby gate before you know it. 'Install baby gates before your child becomes mobile, typically around six months or when they start crawling,' says pediatrician Daniel Ganjian. 'This allows you and your child to get accustomed to their presence and use.' To help you find the right option that fits seamlessly in your home, I selected the top seven baby gates, including options that are safe for the top of the stairs and picks that will blend into your home's decor. Amazon Cardinal Gates SS30 Stairway Special Baby Gate In my experience testing various baby gates in my home, hardware-mounted gates are the best option whenever they're feasible as they're the most sturdy, this also makes them easier to install on stairs. The Cardinal Gates SS30 Stairway Special Baby Gate is a versatile option that can expand from 27 to 42.5 inches, can be installed at a 30-degree angle and can open from either side. It also has a stop bracket to prevent it from swinging over the stairs, which is handy if want to install it at the top of a staircase. The gate is made of aluminum and available in black or white. Ganjian recommends this model for its solid build and the fact that it can be installed on stairs. As an added convenience, the entire gate swings open, meaning you won't have to step over a bar to get through the gate. Amazon Regalo 2-In-1 Extra Tall Baby Gate Regalo is one of my favorite baby gate brands—I have several of their gates in my home. They've proven to be incredibly durable and reliable, and the latch has held up after years of use (unlike some other brands). Ganjian also recommends this brand. The 2-in-1 Extra Tall Baby Gate is hardware-mounted, making it especially secure and ideal for stairways. Its extra height offers added peace of mind, particularly if you're using it to keep larger pets separated from your child who may be able to jump high. Made from alloy steel, the gate comes in white or black and fits doorways between 24 and 40.5 inches wide. It also features a no-step-over design, eliminating the bottom bar. I've found the latch easy to operate one-handed, and it's held up well under heavy use. Amazon Cumbor Retractable Baby Gate Though not quite as sturdy as a hardware-mounted gate, retractable gates are ideal when you frequently need to have the area fully open, like when you're only occasionally using the gate to contain your baby in the living room. The mesh gate secures at the top and bottom, making it difficult for a baby to squeeze past it. Many retractable gates aren't designed for installation with a baseboard, but this option takes baseboards into account so you can install the gate into the wall while still keeping the bottom of the gate close enough to the ground to prevent your child from slipping under it. It fits doorways up to 55 inches wide, and it's available in black, gray or white. Amazon Munchkin Loft Baby Gate When shopping for a stair gate, you definitely want a hardware-mounted gate that doesn't have a bar across the bottom, which could present a major tripping hazard. 'If the gate swings, ensure that at the top of stairs, it swings away from the stairs (towards the landing), not out over the stairs, to prevent falls,' says Ganjian. The Munchkin Loft Baby Gate can swing open in both directions, so you can ensure a safe installation. It also has a sleek modern design that many people might prefer over the typical white or black baby gate. It's designed for doorways between 26.5 and 40 inches nad the handle is easy for adults to open with one hand. Another great feature is a quick-release wall mount, which allows you to remove the gate if you need the space to be completely clear. Many other hardware-mounted gates can only be removed by completely un-installing the gate with tools. Amazon Regalo 194-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate Your options are somewhat limited when you need to gate off a wide doorway or area, but luckily, the Regalo 194-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate can expand up to 194 inches. It can also be configured to use as a playpen for your baby. Since the metal gate is so wide and versatile, it can also be used for angled openings or odd configurations. Even though this gate can be installed as a hardware or pressure-mounted gate, it's best not to use it at the top of the stairs due to the lower bar. You should note there's a bar that goes across the opening, which can present a tripping hazard when adults walk through it and although the gate is easier to open with two hands, it is possible to open it with one hand. You can choose between two color options: black or white. Amazon Toddleroo By North States Deluxe Décor Safety Gate As someone with uneven walls at the top of my staircase, I know how difficult it can be to find a good baby gate that works for awkward spaces. The Toddleroo by North States Deluxe Décor Safety Gate is extra wide, covering openings of up to 72 inches, and it doesn't have to be installed straight across like many other baby gates do. The gate can be mounted to both straight or angled walls, making it ideal for covering fireplaces and other oddly shaped areas. The Toddleroo brand is also recommended by Ganjain. This specific gate is hardware-mounted, so you can be sure it's sturdy, and it's easy for adults to open it with one hand. However, it does have a bar across the opening, so you'll need to be careful not to trip when you walk through it. The metal gate is available in matte bronze or warm white, and if you need it slightly wider, you can purchase a 15-inch extender. Amazon Summer Infant Multi-Use Decorative Extra Tall Baby Gate Summer Infant is another brand recommended by Dr. Ganjian. This particular gate is not only extra tall but also more decorative than many of the more utilitarian options, and it's available in black, bronze, espresso, and white. It fits doorways from 28.5 to 48 inches wide and stands 36 inches tall. The gate can be pressure- or hardware-mounted. However, it includes a bottom bar when the door is open, making it not the best fit to use at the top of stairs. Once installed, the door swings in both directions. It features a one-handed latch that's easy for parents to operate but difficult for children to open. The brand notes that while the gate fits a wide range of openings, it cannot accommodate widths of 32 to 32.5 inches, 36 to 36.5 inches, and 40 to 40.5 inches. At Forbes Vetted, the baby and kids gear team regularly tests and researches the best baby and toddler products. We frequently publish a wide range of guides, including the best toys for 1-year-olds and the best toddler car seats . Alicia Betz , the author of this article, is a mom to three and experienced product tester and parenting journalist. She recently tested nearly a dozen baby gates. , the author of this article, is a mom to three and experienced product tester and parenting journalist. She recently tested nearly a dozen baby gates. Esther Carlstone , the editor of this article, is also a mom to three and an experienced parenting journalist and editor. She frequently tests and reports on the best baby gear and has personally used several of the baby gates on this list. , the editor of this article, is also a mom to three and an experienced parenting journalist and editor. She frequently tests and reports on the best baby gear and has personally used several of the baby gates on this list. I interviewed Daniel Ganjian , a board certified pediatrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. To select the best baby gates, I considered my experience testing nearly a dozen baby gates, interviewing experts and conducting extensive product research. I've used a variety of baby gates and baby gate brands over the years, which has helped me see which brands tend to be more sturdy than others. I've used some of the gates on this list and purposely left off others that haven't performed well. Baby gates can be difficult to install, so I considered the ease of installation and paid close attention to any reviews that consistently mentioned a difficult installation. Every gate on our list has earned at least four out of five stars on Amazon. Ganjian provided information on what helps make a baby gate safe, and he also recommended a number of baby gate brands. I used this information to help inform my picks. I aimed to include a variety of types of gates to appeal to a wide audience, including more decorative options, various installation options and picks at various prices. I compared the features and specs of various gates, including the latch styles, the mount style and the color options. One of the most important things to consider is where you'll be placing your baby gate. Gates that aren't sturdy enough, particularly at the top of the stairs, can be a major safety concern. 'Hardware-mounted gates are essential for the top of stairs as they are securely bolted to the wall or door frame and cannot be pushed over,' says Ganjian. In other locations, pressure-mounted and retractable gates can work, but be aware that kids or pets can knock these types of gates over if they push hard enough. Make sure the gate is wide enough to fit across the desired opening. Additionally, Ganjian recommends choosing sturdy materials like wood, metal or durable plastic. Age Recommendation Surprisingly, most baby gates are only designed for children under two. Once kids reach that age, kids may begin to be able to climb over the gate, and they may also be strong enough to push through the gate. At this point, the gate itself might become more dangerous than what you are gating off. 'Once a child can open the gate or climb over it, it's time to remove it to prevent injury,' says Ganjian. Appropriate Slat Spacing 'For gates with vertical slats or rods, ensure the gaps are no more than 2⅜ inches (6 centimeters) apart to prevent a child's head from getting trapped,' says Ganjian. He also recommends avoiding the older "accordion style' gates with diamond or v-shaped openings because these are a strangulation hazard. Height The gate should be high enough to prevent your child from getting over the top. 'The gate should be at least three-quarters of your child's height, and a minimum of 23 inches high, to prevent them from climbing over,' says Ganjian. If you have a dog that you are trying to keep separated from your child, consider an extra tall gate. Additionally, when installing the gate, leave no more than one to two inches between the bottom of the gate and the floor. This prevents your child from being able to slide underneath the gate. Ease Of Use Often, when you're opening and closing a baby gate, you're doing it with one hand. Look for a latch that's easy enough for adults to use while still being too difficult for toddlers to figure out. Also consider the bottom of the gate—some have bars at the bottom that you'll need to step over every time you walk through. If you're concerned about tripping over this bar, look for a hardware-mounted gate that swings completely open. What Is The Best Baby Gate Brand? Our top pick for the best baby gate is the Cardinal Gates SS30 Stairway Special Baby Gate. The brand is known for its sturdy gates that are suitable for the top of the stairs. Other reputable baby gate brands include Regalo, Cumbor, Toddleroo and more. Which Type Of Baby Gate Is best? The best type of baby gate is safe and solid, so I prefer a hardware-mounted gate without a bottom bar that parents could trip over. This provides the most secure fit and minimizes the risk of tripping and falling over the gate. Do You Really Need A Baby Gate? Most people need a baby gate to protect their baby or toddler. Typically, parents use them to keep kids off of stairs, fireplaces and other dangerous areas. They're also useful to keep kids out of rooms with antiques, collectibles or other items that you don't want them to play with or accidentally break.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Rare upland landscapes on English-Welsh border protected with expanded reserve
More than a thousand hectares of rare uplands have been secured for wildlife, as a nature reserve on the English-Welsh border expands to triple its original size. The new Stiperstones Landscape national nature reserve will conserve 1,562 hectares (3,900 acres) of heathland, ancient woodland, bogs and acidic grasslands linked by unique geology, safeguarding an area more than three times the size of the original Stiperstones reserve. Government agency Natural England said the new reserve combined existing protected sites with more than 1,100 hectares of additional land managed by partner organisations to link up habitats and protect rare plants and threatened wildlife such as the bilberry bumblebee. It will capture carbon, manage flood risk and improve water quality, and preserve ancient quartzite tors, where Wild Edric and his fairy queen Godda of Saxon legend are said to still gallop whenever England faces peril, Natural England said. The new reserve forms part of the 'King's Series of National Nature Reserves', created to mark Charles's lifelong support for the natural environment, with 25 new protected areas planned by 2028. Tony Juniper, chairman of Natural England, said: 'Enhancing and expanding our nature-rich landscapes is one of the most critical actions we must take to achieve our stretching environmental targets; this landmark moment for nature recovery is the next step on that path. 'Collaboration across this landscape will protect the upland heath and ancient woodland conserving rare species while also creating more opportunities for local people to experience the joy of nature first hand.' Forestry England, The Linley Estate, Shropshire County Council, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Middle Marches Community Land Trust and Natural England have joined forces to deliver the new reserve. Dr Richard Keymer, Middle Marches Community Land Trust chairman, said: 'Middle Marches Community Land Trust is delighted that the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve is to be extended and will include two areas of land that we own, Minsterley Meadows and Norbury Hill. 'Larger areas of land managed for nature will make them more resilient in the face of a changing climate,' he said.
