Join The Wild Oysters Project as a Volunteer!

Overview

Join The Wild Oysters Project as a Volunteer!

Healthy oyster reefs are capable of cleaning our coastal waters and providing important habitat for marine life. Native oysters were once abundant in UK seas, but their populations have declined by 95% since the 1800s. This decline means we’ve lost many of the benefits they provided. The Wild Oysters Project aims to restore these essential habitats and bring life back to our seas.

About the Project: The Wild Oysters Project: Tyne and Wear is a partnership between the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Groundwork North East and Cumbria. Funded by the Stronger Shores Partnership, led by South Tyneside Council, with support from Defra through the Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme (FCRIP) managed by the Environment Agency, this project seeks to restore native oysters in the Tyne and Wear region. You can see the project in action here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-66977910

We’ve established a local restoration hub, and we need your help!

Volunteer Activities: We are seeking volunteers to assist with our surveys, conducted once a month (usually 4-5 hours per day). Activities include:

• Biodiversity net surveys to record mobile marine animals
• Photo surveys of oysters to document sessile animals
• Oyster health and reproduction surveys

This role is perfect for those who enjoy being outdoors, love the sea, and are eager to get hands-on experience while learning about marine animals and habitat restoration. You don’t need any training or equipment to get involved, just sturdy clothing and an enthusiastic attitude!

Details:

• Who: Open to all over-18s passionate about marine conservation and community involvement
• Where: Sunderland Marina, Roker
• When: Monthly sessions

How to Get Involved: Register your interest by contacting us via the information below or scan the QR code.

Contact Information:

• Email: Wild.Oysters@zsl.org
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wild_Oysters
• Website: https://wild-oysters.org/

Make a Difference in Your Local Marine Environment Volunteer With The Wild Oysters Project!