Posters

Abstract

We present the development of an innovative method for scalable oyster reef restoration for European offshore wind farms. The method is developed and demonstrated by a 9-party consortium that brings together scientific, operational, and market knowledge.  The European native oyster, Ostrea edulis, is an important habitat-forming species. It provides valuable ecosystem services, such as facilitating highly biodiverse communities of benthic and fish species, and enhancing local water quality. The historically vast oyster reefs in the North Sea have disappeared due to overfishing. Presently, hard substrates and oyster larvae are lacking, constraining natural recovery of oyster reefs. The development of offshore renewable energy includes installation of large volumes of substrate (rocks) to protect assets. These present a unique opportunity to recreate oyster reefs.  We demonstrate the viability of remote setting, a technique by which oyster larvae are induced to set on a substrate under controlled conditions. These oyster-seeded rocks kickstart reef formation in marine infrastructure. These oysters mature, reproduce, and seed further available substrate in and beyond the site. In 2025, we developed a mobile remote setting facility, to facilitate larval settlement. A first test in the Port of Rotterdam demonstrated the effectivity of the method, resulting in high larvae settlement on rocks. Quantification of loss rates of young oysters upon deployment onto the seafloor showed high survival rates. Thereafter, we expanded the remote setting facility, and introduced 15 million oyster larvae to the system. When settled, we deployed the spat on rock from a vessel at a site inside the Port of Rotterdam. In 2026, a third remote set is performed and the spat on rock will be deployed at an offshore cable crossing. Subsequently this technology will be ready for large scale application in offshore energy sites, or indeed in any site where oyster reef restoration is beneficial.