News
Diving with a purpose – BSAC’s Operation Oyster 2022 report just released
Native oyster shells 35 metres underwater and the discovery of rare spiny seahorse are just some of the unexpected finds highlighted in the newly released Operation Oyster 2022 report.
Launched back in 2021, Operation Oyster is BSAC’s key citizen science project created to enable divers to play a key role in oyster bed restoration around our coastline.
The project’s ‘mission’ is to search for and document evidence of the UK’s native oyster population, which has seen a 95% drop in population numbers over the past 150 years due to overfishing, disease, pollution and habitat loss.
With its first full year now completed, the 2022 Operation Oyster report has highlighted the progress that has been made in establishing the extent of the native oyster’s decline.
The BSAC project is currently working with the BLUE Marine Foundation, Scottish marine charity Seawilding, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the University of Portsmouth. Data collected via the project is also being made accessible to the scientific community.
Operation Oyster coordinator, Andy Hunt, said the 2022 report has also shown the work that still needs to be done:
“We have dived the breadth of the UK in 2022 and found evidence of native flat oysters where we weren’t expecting them. However, the project has not yet found any live native oyster reefs or substantial beds,” Andy explained.
“There is hope though. Live native oysters are holding on in places, but just not in the quantity they used to be. A key finding of 2022’s activities was a carbon store of old native flat oyster shells that that may help show us what the seabed used to look like and what we should be aiming to restore.”
A large native oyster shell discovered on last year’s expedition. Credit – Operation Oyster.
Key milestones for Operation Oyster in 2022 include:
- Project dives on three scientific sites in the Solent, which revealed individual native oysters on a range of habitats, including wrecks and reefs
- A series of Operation Oyster expeditions in the Sound of Mull and Cape Wrath which included a total dive time of 157.7 hours over 191 dives
- The discovery of a substantial dead native oyster reef functioning as a carbon store in Loch Craignish
- Identified several other potential historic native oyster sites
- Created citizen science opportunities for divers and BSAC clubs, including training progression and experience dives
- Recorded evidence of live native oysters around the UK, including the Isle of Wight, Cornwall, Teignmouth, Donegal and the Sound of Mull.
Buoyed by the success of 2022, Andy said he and the Operation Oyster team were looking forward to consolidating on the project’s progress. More expeditions are now planned,
including a return to the Loch Craignish and Jura area in the spring to gain a greater appreciation of what its historic native oyster beds would have looked like 150 years ago.
Andy said that while the project had yet to find a live native oyster reef in the UK, he was looking forward to what 2023 could bring.
“Operation Oyster is a long-term project and while a constant focus will be on going diving and getting data, it is ultimately about helping to restore the cold-water equivalent of coral reefs around our coastline,” said Andy.
“And with Operation Oyster, this is also a fantastic chance for all divers to get involved and add an important environmental purpose to their diving.”
To download the Operation Oyster Report 2022, and to find out how you can get involved in the project’s 2023 activities go to bsac.com/operationoyster
Header Image: The Operation Oyster team, post-dive, off the Isle of Wight. Credit: Operation Oyster.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
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