The BELREEFS consortium is taking the lead in bringing back oyster reefs, and has started, on behalf of the Federal Public Service Health, the first offshore pilot project on large-scale restoration of flat oyster reefs in the Belgian part of the North Sea. This collaboration between Jan De Nul Group, Institute of Natural Sciences, Shells & Valves and Mantis Consulting will support marine biodiversity.
Flat oyster reefs have historically been a dominant structural and ecological component of coastal and offshore marine ecosystems, contributing to coastal economies for centuries. Oysters are often called "ecosystem engineers" because they create habitats that support entire ecosystems. However, most of Europe's extensive oyster beds disappeared in the late 19th century due to human influences, mainly due to overfishing and seabed-disturbing activities. In the 20th century, the species was also affected by the oyster parasite Bonamia ostreae, which was imported from California to Europe around 1979, probably via oyster transports. In France, the Netherlands and Belgium, the remaining European flat oysters almost completely disappeared because of this parasite.
Offshore flat oyster restoration is a very challenging task, which can only succeed through innovative and creative approaches. This is the first time that a project of this scale has been set up in the Belgian part of the North Sea. Government, industry and science are joining forces to meet this complex challenge. The complexity of the logistical support, and the sensitivity of oysters to disturbance (during seeding, transport and installation at sea), requires in-depth knowledge covering different fields of expertise.
The BELREEFS project is unique in several ways. It is the first time that oyster restoration will take place offshore on this scale. In addition, the restoration will be carried out where oyster beds historically occurred, on the so-called gravel beds. We will also carry out extensive monitoring of the seabed and other environmental conditions to determine the exact locations for restoration measures. The project also includes several innovations.For example, we will allow oyster larvae to settle directly on suitable substrate on land ('remote setting'), before releasing them into the sea. The oyster reef will then be monitored intensively for several years. Our aim is to achieve a self-sustaining and thriving oyster reef that supports marine ecosystems.