Latest news with #WildOysterProject
North Wales Live
a day ago
- General
- North Wales Live
Coastal project involving huge 660-tonne artificial reef 'finally' close to completion
Wild oysters are set to finally be introduced into Conwy's bay. Conwy Council's Harbour Advisory Committee met at the council's Coed Pella HQ this week for an update on the project. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported in July 2023 that Bangor University was working with the Zoological Society of London to reintroduce wild oysters into the waters. The plans involved 'reseeding' a 660-tonne artificial reef, however Natural Resources Wales had reservations about the proposals. Speaking at the committee meeting, harbourmaster Matthew Forbes told members the long-running delay was now at an end – thanks to a succession of storms. He said: 'After an almost two-year delay with the Wild Oyster Project, due to the reef height and the way it was initially being laid, there was a complaint that it was above the marine licensed permitted height even though it wasn't a navigation channel." Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox. He added: "Over the last couple of years, storms have knocked the reef height down. "Natural Resources Wales have agreed that Bangor University can move on to the final stage, which is to put down shells on top of the limestone bed and then put the oysters on top of the shells. And then hopefully reintroduce oysters back into the Conwy Bay and Conwy Harbour – wild oysters. 'So today we've been bagging up the shells down at the Beacons, and they are all in 76 bags ready to go out and be distributed at the site. "So we hope to do the first run [last] Friday, subject to the weather.' A report presented to the committee added: ''The 'Jac y Do' (boat) has been chartered to lay shells (cultch), over the limestone reef together with 2,000 oysters. This exciting project to bring wild oysters into Conwy Bay and Conwy Harbour will finally move towards completion.' Chairing the meeting, Mrs Joan Vaughan said: 'Wouldn't it be lovely to have oysters in the Conwy River, as well as mussels. Very good.' Public notices in your area
Wales Online
a day ago
- General
- Wales Online
Coastal project involving huge 660-tonne artificial reef 'finally' close to completion
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Wild oysters are set to finally be introduced into Conwy's bay. Conwy Council's Harbour Advisory Committee met at the council's Coed Pella HQ this week for an update on the project. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported in July 2023 that Bangor University was working with the Zoological Society of London to reintroduce wild oysters into the waters. The plans involved 'reseeding' a 660-tonne artificial reef, however Natural Resources Wales had reservations about the proposals. Speaking at the committee meeting, harbourmaster Matthew Forbes told members the long-running delay was now at an end – thanks to a succession of storms. He said: 'After an almost two-year delay with the Wild Oyster Project, due to the reef height and the way it was initially being laid, there was a complaint that it was above the marine licensed permitted height even though it wasn't a navigation channel." Sign up for the North Wales Live newslettersent twice daily to your inbox. He added: "Over the last couple of years, storms have knocked the reef height down. "Natural Resources Wales have agreed that Bangor University can move on to the final stage, which is to put down shells on top of the limestone bed and then put the oysters on top of the shells. And then hopefully reintroduce oysters back into the Conwy Bay and Conwy Harbour – wild oysters. 'So today we've been bagging up the shells down at the Beacons, and they are all in 76 bags ready to go out and be distributed at the site. "So we hope to do the first run [last] Friday, subject to the weather.' A report presented to the committee added: ''The 'Jac y Do' (boat) has been chartered to lay shells (cultch), over the limestone reef together with 2,000 oysters. This exciting project to bring wild oysters into Conwy Bay and Conwy Harbour will finally move towards completion.' Chairing the meeting, Mrs Joan Vaughan said: 'Wouldn't it be lovely to have oysters in the Conwy River, as well as mussels. Very good.' Public notices in your area
Time Out
02-05-2025
- General
- Time Out
What happens to your used oyster shells after that decadent meal?
Aw shucks, you just had a wonderful meal, tipping your head back to usher a soft and succulent oyster down your throat—and now you're left with a plate full of shells. What can be done with them? Fabulously, these shells can be recycled with the "Save Your Shucks" program based in California via the Wild Oyster Project. Oyster reefs need to be rebuilt; they are currently at a shocking 1 percent of historic levels. In the San Francisco Bay Area, baby oysters free swim in the bay but require oyster shells to settle on and grow. They seek out shells, and over time, oyster reefs, a collection of living and dead shells, form to protect the community. The Wild Oyster Project returns those native Olympia shells to the bay to help restore the delicate balance needed to help oysters thrive. It's a cool sustainability measure; in the project's words, 'Let's eat oysters to save the oysters!" I first learned about the project at the Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette in Marina, California. The associated hotel on the property, Sanctuary Beach Resort, participates in the Wild Oyster Project and also does small-scale recycling of the shells by setting up guests to do découpage projects on discarded and cleaned shells. So, how does it work? Restaurants all over the Bay Area keep a marked 5-gallon plastic bucket on hand to gather the shells, and project volunteers come by to collect them weekly or bi-monthly. Restaurants are limited to ten buckets a month. The shells then go to a shell-curing site to be cleaned of any invasive species and bacteria… and then they're returned to the water via oyster restoration projects. A well-known restaurant that participates in this project is Lazy Bear, a restaurant in San Francisco carrying two Michelin stars. Almond and Oak in Oakland, across the bay, is another participant, as is San Francisco cocktail bar Petite Lil's. The Salty Pearl seafood restaurant in Oakland also takes part—and it should, since it's in Jack London Square, named for the famous author who was a teenage oyster pirate, sailing out under the cover of darkness to illegally harvest oysters and sell them to restaurants. According to this source, he earned the nickname, 'The Prince of the Oyster Pirates.' Who knew?
