Oysters And Shipwrecks

A century-old shipwreck lying at the bottom of the sea off the coast of Belgium has been given a new purpose – to serve as a breeding ground for a stash of rare flat oysters. 

They have nowhere else to go. 

“Until around the 1850s, the North Sea and the European waters were full of these oyster reefs,” project engineer Vicky Stratigaki told Agence France-Presse. 

Today, it is almost impossible to find the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) in the North Sea, as it has been nearly wiped out by overfishing, environmental degradation, and a persistent parasite. 

“We have to bring them back because they are essential elements in our marine ecosystems,” continued Stratigaki. 

Flat oysters, often called ecosystem engineers, create reefs that serve as breeding and feeding grounds for a wide range of marine animals, from fish to algae, Blue Cluster explained. 

They also play a role in purifying the water, capturing excess nitrogen, and stabilizing the seabed. 

Following over a year of preparation for this project, called Belreefs, the team deployed 200,000 oysters into the sea using a specialized installation vessel. The mollusks were attached to what is known as a reef substrate. 

After studying various biodegradable materials that could serve as reef substrate, the team chose baked clay tiles as a base for the oysters. Oyster larvae were then seeded onto these tiles and cultivated for several weeks before being placed on a gravel bed about 100 feet below sea level, near the shipwreck. 

The 1906 shipwreck, known as Kilmore, is located about 20 miles off the coastal city of Ostend in northern Belgium. It was selected for the project as fishing and other disruptive activities are banned around it. 

In Belgium, any shipwreck that has been on the seafloor for more than a century is automatically protected as cultural heritage, explained marine environment expert Merel Oeyen. 

The team chose the location as it had the most suitable seabed and environmental conditions for the oysters. 

“We expect that over 30,000 oyster larvae will grow into adult oysters,” said Oeyen. “The survivors will reproduce, expand the reef, and attract other marine species. This will create a self-sustaining ecosystem that requires no further human intervention.” 

After the installation, an intensive monitoring program will closely observe the reef’s growth and assess its effect on local biodiversity. 

The goal is to restore biodiversity in the area, say researchers, boosting other marine species as well.