Tyne and Wear coast set for People’s Postcode Lottery to save Oysters

Wild Oysters

Photograph taken by Gardiner Mitchell Photography for Loughs Agency

The Tyne and Wear coastal water body will join the River Conwy in Wales and the Firth of Clyde in Scotland in being the locations for new oyster nurseries. Alison Debney, ZSL Senior Conservation Programme Manager, said: “Our dream is to grow a self-sustaining population of native oysters in the UK.

“This funding awarded by Postcode Dream Trust means we now have the potential to release nine billion native oyster larvae into the ocean creating oyster nurseries in UK waters, work with local communities to care for our oceans superheroes and connect people and wildlife.

“Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery we hope to see healthy, resilient, coastal waters and make a remarkable difference to the future of wild oysters.”

It’s hoped that the new oyster nurseries will inspire the next generation to protect and enhance Britain’s marine environment, with the project expected to engage thousands of volunteers from schools, workplaces and other organisations to get involved in the importance of increasing the oyster population.

For further information please see https://www.groundwork.org.uk/projects/wild-oysters-project/

Wild Oysters England

Wild Oysters Project Funder logos