Latest news with #oysterrestoration
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Gold medallist sailor champions Solent oyster restoration
An Olympic gold medallist has joined conservation efforts to restore oyster populations in the Solent, as his team gears up to race on the same waters in this season's Fletcher, who helms Great Britain's team, said it was vital to protect the marine environment sailors share with hundreds of species that live in the strait between the Isle of Wight and global competition returns to English shores in July for the first time in three years, with GB currently second in the standings, just one point behind Australia."We all need to do our little bit to make the world a better place," said Fletcher. The Olympic sailor, who won gold at Tokyo 2020 in the 49ers class, has been joined by teammates, conservationists and children from Emsworth Primary School to learn about the Solent Oyster Restoration said: "It's incredible projects like this that are now rejuvenating the oceans and are bringing the native oysters back here into Emsworth."It's why we're really trying to show what is possible, that we all need to do our little bit to make the world a better place."Fletcher said having a SailGP event in Portsmouth was "massive", adding: "We've got a grandstand that can hold 20,000 people, so I'm hoping we'll have some good conditions, showcase sailing and show how fun it is to watch."We're really happy with where we are at the moment. It's ultimately a long season, but we'd love to take the win in Portsmouth."But while attention builds for the high-speed races, the Solent was once home to a different kind of activity as the site of Europe's largest oyster fishery. Fletcher's teammate Kai Hockley said the restoration project had made a strong impression."I've learnt so much about how oysters help the Solent," he said. "With all the biodiversity it has, we need to make sure to protect it, to keep our Solent as good as it is."The Blue Marine Foundation, which runs the project, said oyster numbers in the Solent have collapsed due to pollution, disease and overfishing. The aim is to boost biodiversity and water quality but it would also help revive the Solent's former ecological and economic role. Dr Luke Helmer, from the project, said: "We used to have Europe's largest fishery back in the 70s and 80s, with around 15 million oysters being taken, which is unfortunately now closed."That was about 840 tonnes a year. It was a huge industry that supported about 700 workers."What we're trying to do now is restore it - not only for that but for the environmental benefits, an adult oyster can filter 100 to 150 litres of water a day."The project team is currently checking out a new four-hectare seabed reef in Chichester, which could home hundreds of thousands of oysters."I think it's really important that all marine users get involved in this, nobody wants to be playing or swimming in muddy waters, and oysters have an important role to play in that," said Dr Helmer. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Oyster restoration efforts ramp up near Key Bridge collapse site to improve water quality
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has resumed oyster restoration efforts near the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse for the first time in nearly a year. More than 31,000 oysters were planted on Wednesday at Fort Carroll, a sanctuary reef a short swimming distance from where the bridge collapsed in March 2024. WJZ joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation on the Patapsco River to help plant the oysters. Kellie Fiala, the Maryland Oyster Restoration Coordinator with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, says oysters are a natural filter feeder that filters up to 50 gallons of water each day, which clears the way for better water quality and more wildlife. "It's critical," Fiala said. "Oysters used to be a critical part of the economy here, the environment here, and so what we're really trying to do is reconnect people to the water in a healthy and positive way, but also improve the water quality here." Oysters thriving despite Key Bridge collapse WJZ joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for an oyster restoration effort in March 2024, the day before the Key Bridge collapsed. Fiala said the collapse sparked fear that the debris would stir up sediment and smother the oysters. But, fortunately, underwater surveying shows the oysters are alive and thriving. More than 500,000 oysters to be planted this summer The Chesapeake Bay Foundation expects to plant about 500,000 oysters in the waters this summer. The oysters being planted at Fort Carroll this summer have been growing throughout marinas in the Harbor, tended to by volunteers. This process of "oyster gardening" helps oysters survive their first year of life, when they're most vulnerable. "We want them to improve water quality, provide habitat, and ecosystem services in Baltimore for the people here," Fiala said. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation said more than six million oysters have been planted in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. According to the Department of Natural Resources, Maryland's oyster population has more than tripled in the past 20 years. Oysters are crucial for Maryland's economy Oysters are important for the Chesapeake Bay's ecosystem, as well as Maryland's economy. Maryland's seafood industry accounts for about $600 million annually to the state's economy. Within the last three years, Maryland has collected a record number of oysters. Oysters also help improve the Chesapeake Bay's water quality, with adult oysters filtering up to 50 gallons each day, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that water clarity improvements to the bay could drive up property values in Maryland.
