Wild oysters finally to be introduced to Conwy Bay
Richard Evans – Local democracy reporter
Wild oysters are set to finally be introduced into Conwy’s bay.
Conwy Council’s Harbour Advisory Committee met at the council’s Coed Pella HQ this week for an update on the project.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported in July 2023 that Bangor University was working with the Zoological Society of London to reintroduce wild oysters into the waters.
The plans involved “reseeding” a 660-tonne artificial reef, however Natural Resources Wales had reservations about the proposals.
Speaking at the committee meeting, harbourmaster Matthew Forbes told members the long-running delay was now at an end – thanks to a succession of storms.
‘Complaint’
He said: “After an almost two-year delay with the Wild Oyster Project, due to the reef height and the way it was initially being laid, there was a complaint that it was above the marine licensed permitted height even though it wasn’t a navigation channel.”
He added: “Over the last couple of years, storms have knocked the reef height down.
“Natural Resources Wales have agreed that Bangor University can move on to the final stage, which is to put down shells on top of the limestone bed and then put the oysters on top of the shells.
“And then hopefully reintroduce oysters back into the Conwy Bay and Conwy Harbour – wild oysters.
“So today we’ve been bagging up the shells down at the Beacons, and they are all in 76 bags ready to go out and be distributed at the site.
“So we hope to do the first run [last] Friday, subject to the weather.”
‘Lovely’
A report presented to the committee added: ““The ‘Jac y Do’ (boat) has been chartered to lay shells (cultch), over the limestone reef together with 2,000 oysters.
“This exciting project to bring wild oysters into Conwy Bay and Conwy Harbour will finally move towards completion.”
Chairing the meeting, Mrs Joan Vaughan said: “Wouldn’t it be lovely to have oysters in the Conwy River, as well as mussels. Very good.”
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No dredging like scallops I hope…protect the sea bed from harm, this reef sounds a cobble together, the storms will love that…
Why so grudging MM? Puts me in mind of those notorious Welsh lobsters. Its a good news story! Oystermouth next?
I was on the boats when the Scallop boats turned up from all quarters of the UK, after seeing what a mess they were making in the early seventies I quit, in two years the sea bed was a wasteland same as RTZ had planned for the length of the Mawddach…
I can see that you have a gently gently and considered approach but best practice is to leave the sea bed alone…but trust I’m not sure…
Have you read the book Night of the Crabs and do you have any years under your belt JEP
Iawn, rwy’n ‘da ti nawr. I was looking out north-east from Penfeidr up Cardigan Bay past Penmorfa and in your direction. I think I saw the same scallop boats as you, scouring the bay brown. A terrible sight, worse to a fisherman. With Elin Jones the MS for Ceredigion the Minister for Rural Affairs ie fishing at the time and in a position to stop it. Cywilyddus. Up there with Carms CC allowing sewage to flow all over the growing cockles. Unbelievable. We Welsh must elect some different and better Welsh leaders. I’ll explain the Welsh lobster thing another time,… Read more »
Welsh Lobsters are amazing, they don’t age, like Dr Who they build a bigger Tardis until their metabolic starting handle is too much for Dr Lobster to turn, 50 plus year down the line.
Uncles lorry would pull off and one knew by the time they got to their destination the bottom layer would be pulp…