Oyster Hunt

Published 22:40 on 12 Mar 2025

The large non-native Pacific oyster is colonising our shores. There are concerns that their sharp shells will injure beach goers, swimmers and dogs! Yet there could be some benefit for our water quality, thanks to the species' enormous water filtration capacity! For the past three years Club members and guests have been monitoring oyster colonisation on the beach at St. Helens. During an exceptionally low tide last week, seven intrepid volunteers, organised by Duncan, counted the oysters in 4 x 100 sqm quadrats at the east end of the beach, marked by race buoys! Overall Mean density was 1.3 oysters per square metre with the maximum density in the low shore quadrat of 3.6 oysters per square metre. Many of the oysters were in clumps of 3-4. The mean density has increased by just over 100% in one year, and the Max density by 130%.So what?

Well, as density is still relatively low (it's already approaching 80 per square metre on some Solent shores) we could still ' manage ' the population if there was consensus. We would not be able to eradicate the population completely, as new settlement will occur every year. Thoughts welcome. All enjoyed the wonderful weather and it was great to have local biologist and photographer Theo Vickers join in the hunt with us.

Roger Herbert

Last updated 22:53 on 12 March 2025