In a boost for local marine life, petcare company Purina has partnered with marine conservationists Oyster Heaven to deploy new oyster reefs off the North Norfolk coast.
The aim is to embed at least 4m oysters and restore healthy marine ecosystems by improving water quality and providing a home for a wide range of species.
Native European oysters, once plentiful along the UK coastline, play a crucial role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems
Oyster reefs generate biodiversity and act as natural water filterers, removing pollutants including excess nitrogen.
With the disappearance of the species from UK waters in the past century, the ecosystem disappeared. This new project will help reverse the decline.
Oyster Heaven has deployed the first batch of specially designed clay bricks known as Mother Reefs, which serve as homes for juvenile oysters and pave the way for large-scale deployment.
By the end of 2026, it is hoped that 40,000 Mother Reefs will be in place, containing millions of young oysters.
The operation is being carried out alongside Norfolk Seaweed, a local family-run aquaculture business with a deep knowledge of the local marine environment.
George Birch, founder of Oyster Heaven, says: “Building an oyster reef is all about large numbers to create population tipping points and provide a suitable habitat.
“It starts with the creation of Mother Reefs, which are specially designed clay structures.
“Each reef is pre-charged with over a hundred baby oysters, known as spats, in a controlled environment to ensure their survival and growth.
“Local teams from Norfolk Seaweed will then carefully place the Mother Reefs on the seafloor, allowing the spat to grow into mature oysters.
“These oyster reef systems act as a foundation for the whole ecosystem, generating an oasis of life on the seafloor.”
More broadly, Purina Europe has an ambitious Ocean Restoration Programme, which launched last year, and is part of the company’s commitment to help advance the regeneration of ocean and soil ecosystems in their extended fish supply chains.
The company is taking an active role to help restore marine habitats at scale across Europe. By working with various partners, the overall aim is to restore 1500 hectares – the equivalent of 3,700 football pitches – of marine habitat by 2030.
Kerstin Schmeiduch, Director of Sustainability at Purina Europe, said: “We source fish by-products for our pet food – meaning no part of the fish goes to waste while delivering valuable vitamins and minerals for pets.
“We are thrilled to be working with Oyster Heaven, marking an important step towards improving marine restoration along the Norfolk coastline and a first for Purina in the UK. As marine biodiversity faces significant challenges, it is essential we come together for collective restoration efforts. We urge other companies and organisations to work together on collaborative solutions for the benefit of ocean health.”
The Norfolk oyster restoration site marks a significant milestone in Purina’s collaboration with Oyster Heaven. Together with a site already underway in the Netherlands, the collaboration looks set to become the largest oyster restoration initiative in Europe.
