REEFCOVERY: Bringing lost oyster reefs back to life

Did you know that oysters are the ecosystem engineers of the sea? They help recover damaged environments, filter and clean waters, provide a healthy habitat for numerous species, and enable biodiversity. Unfortunately, massive sea exploitation and climate change have endangered the life of our local European flat oyster (Ostrea Edulis), putting at risk the health of many other species thriving around the oyster reefs. The goal is to create a sustainable environment for the growth of European Flat oyster reefs and a healthier environment for the North Sea. This research is conducted within the project entitled REEFCOVERY funded by the Flemish Government VLAIO and supported by The Blue Cluster under project with reference number HBC.2023.0394.