Rise Up For The Ocean
Facilitating the restoration of Native Oysters across the UK and Ireland
EUROPEAN NATIVE OYSTER Overview of the species Ostrea edulis Biology The European native oyster (Ostrea edulis) is a bivalve mollusc that is typically associated with shallow, subtidal coastal and estuarine habitats. The native oyster has a rounded, rough shell with a pale green, yellow or brown colouring, and when mature are around 5-20 cm in length. Oysters are filter feeders, they use their valves to pump water across hair like gill structures to filter out microscopic algae and small organic particles f
Oyster reefs Left undisturbed, oysters will form complex reef structures, which provides habitat and refuge for a diversity of organisms, such as juvenile fish, crabs, sea snails and sponges. Native oyster reefs and beds (hereafter reefs) are formed when large numbers of living oysters and dead shells form an extensive biogenic habitat on the sea floor. Oyster reefs typically form on mixed substrate, in shallow waters less than 10 meters deep, although they have been found to depths of up to 80 meters.
Rise Up For The Ocean