Wightlink supports plans for Solent oyster reef restoration

The ferry company's commercial director Phil Delaney rolled up his sleeves to join volunteers cleaning and sorting more than 15,000 native oysters at the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Marine Science for the new reef in the River Hamble.

Dr Luke Helmer organised the sessions as part of the Blue Marine Foundation’s ongoing programme to restore native oysters to the Solent, which has seen Wightlink host oyster nurseries in the Lymington River near its ferry port, where millions of larvae are being released into the Solent.

He said: "Our volunteers are invaluable in helping us prepare the oysters for their new home in Solent waters as we work to create a healthy self-sustaining population and highlight their importance to both people and nature."

The oysters were sourced from an estuary in Wales and have now been placed on a newly created reef on the bed of the River Hamble.

At the end of March, the foundation, along with the River Hamble Harbour Authority and contractors Jenkins Marine, laid the foundations for the reef.

They laid a thin veneer of shingle mixed with cockleshells, known as ‘cultch,’ covering 2,500 metres square onto the seabed.

Oysters improve water quality as just one of them can filter up to 200 litres of water every day.

Read more: Conservationists create reef which will be home to 30,000 oysters

They are also ‘ecosystem engineers’ providing a home for more than 130 other sea creatures in the Solent region. Reefs also have the potential act as a natural defence against coastal erosion.

Between 1972 and 2006, the Solent supported the largest native oyster fishery in Europe. But since then, the oyster population has fallen significantly and the fishery collapsed in 2013.

Across the UK, native oyster reefs have declined by 95 per cent as a result of overfishing, pollution, disease, habitat loss and other pressures.

Phil said: “I enjoyed getting involved in cleaning the oysters ready for their new home in Solent waters and am delighted we at Wightlink are playing our part in the restoration project.”