Wild oysters are set to be introduced into Conwy Bay following a delay of nearly two years, brought about by a succession of storms.

Bangor University has now received permission to proceed to the final stage of the project, which involves “reseeding” a 660-tonne artificial reef.

Harbourmaster Matthew Forbes confirmed the project would “finally move towards completion”, with the first distribution scheduled for Friday.

Once a key part of Wales’s fishing industry, wild oysters have been in serious decline due to overfishing, deteriorating water quality, and disease.

Back in July 2023, it was first reported that Bangor University was working in partnership with the Zoological Society of London to reintroduce wild oysters to local waters.

An update on the project was presented this week at a meeting of Conwy Council’s Harbour Advisory Committee.

At the meeting, Harbourmaster Forbes explained that the reef had initially exceeded the height permitted under the marine licence.

“Over the last couple of years, storms have knocked the reef height down,” he added.

However, Natural Resources Wales has now granted approval for the project to move forward, and 76 bags of oysters are ready for distribution.

Committee chairwoman Joan Vaughan welcomed the news, saying it would be “lovely” to see oysters return to the River Conwy.

Native oysters were once abundant in the Conwy area but have all but vanished in recent years.

Oyster beds were previously a common sight in the Menai Strait and around Anglesey.

According to the Wild Oysters Project, the shellfish are a “vital food source” for coastal communities and have historically made an important contribution to the Welsh economy.

The Mumbles—or ‘Oystermouth’—fishery was once the largest in Wales, supporting 400 fishers across 188 boats.

In the mid-19th century, Welsh oyster boats were known to land around 8,000 oysters per day, with some areas reporting as many as 15,000 to 20,000 daily.

The efforts to reintroduce oysters to Welsh waters reflect a broader pattern of decline observed across the UK.

On the East Yorkshire coast, a separate conservation initiative is trialling a new breeding technique aimed at reintroducing 500,000 native European flat oysters over the next five years.

There have also been proposals to reintroduce oysters to the River Thames as part of efforts to clean up London’s waterways.

 

 

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