The scientific team is complete, the work can begin: At the Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, the starting signal has been given for a new project dedicated to restoring the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis). Led by Dr. Bérenger Colsoul, the interdisciplinary team has been strengthened in recent months by Dr. Jennifer Nascimento-Schulze, M.Sc. Nicolas Araujo Pineiro and Dr. Laura Ballesteros Redondo. Additional technical positions are currently being filled.
The aim of the project is to develop innovative and sustainable methods for producing high-quality oyster seed. This seed forms the foundation for the return of the European flat oyster to the German North Sea and, consequently, for the restoration of its species-rich reef systems that once shaped vast marine areas.
At the Thünen Institute, the focus lies on controlled reproduction: from broodstock conditioning and microalgae cultivation to larval rearing, settlement on natural substrates and a nursery pre-growth phase. Accompanying applied research optimizes these processes with regard to efficiency, animal health and environmental sustainability.
In close cooperation with the Alfred Wegener Institute and additional partners, the project aims to establish the basis for large-scale restoration – a crucial step toward protecting biodiversity and strengthening North Sea ecosystems.
