Stronger Shores say new nursery cages have been placed in Hartlepool Dock by their partner Tees Rivers Trust.
The new cages are in a more tidal area to allow the comparison of growth and survival of oysters already installed in the sheltered Hartlepool Marina, with the more exposed tidal area.
A Stronger Shores spokesperson said: “This nursery is an important milestone in their mission to help reintroduce the native oyster to the Tees Estuary. Stronger Shores funding from the Environment Agency is part of the package of funding that is supporting native oyster restoration work through its Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme.”
They went on: “Native Oysters grown in this nursery will hopefully provide Tees Bay with a number of larvae each year and help in the ongoing efforts to increase populations here. Oysters have an important part to play in making our coasts stronger in the face of flooding, climate change and rising sea levels.”
The spokesperson added: “This small scale restoration is a step in the right direction towards identifying how much oysters can help mitigate issues in our changing climate. Stronger Shores is exploring and researching how much impact oysters can have on their environment and their potential as a wider spread solution to issues our coastline is facing.”
