Perspective Note

Overcoming Ostrea edulis seed production limitations to meet ecosystem restoration demands in the UN decade on restoration

¹ Changing Oceans Group, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, James Hutton Rd, King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FE, UK
² IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
³ Roem van Yerseke BV, Yerseke, The Netherlands
⁴ Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, Yerseke, The Netherlands
⁵ Department of Applied Ecology, University of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Croatia
⁶ Département Ressources Biologiques et Environnement, Ifremer, ZI de la pointe du diable, CS 10070, 29280 Plouzané, France
⁷ International Marine Centre − IMC, Loc. Sa Mardini, 09170 Torre Grande, Italy
⁸ School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
⁹ Redbank Shellfish, New Quay, Burrin, Co Clare, Ireland
¹⁰ AQUACOV, Instituto Español de Oceanografıa (IEO, CSIC), Centro Oceanografico de Vigo, Subida a Radio Faro, 50, 36390 Vigo, Spain
¹¹ Conservation & Policy, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
¹² Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
¹³ Department of Ecology, Agronomy and Aquaculture, University of Zadar, Zadar, Croatia
¹⁴ Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA
¹⁵ Blue Marine Foundation, London, UK
¹⁶ University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK
¹⁷ Atlantic Shellfish Ltd, Cork, Ireland
¹⁸ Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Norway
¹⁹ Coastal Ecology, Danish Shellfish Centre, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Øroddevej 80, 7900 Nykøbing Mors, Denmark
²⁰ Fal Fishery Cooperative CIC - SavingESTER, Mylor, Falmouth, Cornwall, UK
²¹ School of Ocean Science, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
²² Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
²³ Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture, University of Patras, Mesolongi Gr 30200, Greece
²⁴ Biological Institute Helgoland, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Helgoland, Germany

^* Corresponding author: berenger.colsoul@awi.de

Handling Editor: Ryan B Carnegie

Received: 31 July 2022
Accepted: 2 May 2023

Abstract

The European flat oyster, Ostrea edulis, is a habitat-forming bivalve which was historically widespread throughout Europe. Following its decline due to overfishing, pollution, sedimentation, invasive species, and disease, O. edulis and its beds are now listed as a threatened and/or declining species and habitat by OSPAR. Increasing recognition of the plight of the oyster, alongside rapidly developing restoration techniques and growing interest in marine restoration, has resulted in a recent and rapid growth in habitat restoration efforts. O. edulis seed supply is currently a major bottleneck in scaling up habitat restoration efforts in Europe. O. edulis has been cultured for centuries, however, research into its culture declined following the introduction of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas to Europe in the early 1970 s. Recent efforts to renew both hatchery and pond production of O. edulis seed for habitat restoration purposes are hampered by restoration project timelines and funding typically being short, or projects not planning appropriately for the timescales required for investment, research-and-development and delivery of oyster seed by commercial producers. Furthermore, funding for restoration is intermittent, making long-term commitments between producers and restoration practitioners difficult. Long-term, strategic investment in research and production are needed to overcome these bottlenecks and meet current ambitious restoration targets across Europe.