Home / Environment / Oysters Return to Humber Estuary After 80 Years!
Oysters Return to Humber Estuary After 80 Years!
10 Dec, 2025
Summary
- 250,000 oysters reintroduced to Humber Estuary.
- Project aims to restore marine ecosystem along coast.
- Native oysters haven't been seen locally since 1940s.
A large-scale oyster reintroduction is underway in the Humber Estuary, with approximately 250,000 native oysters now inhabiting the Spurn Point peninsula. This significant effort is part of the Wilder Humber project, focused on revitalizing the marine ecosystem along the Yorkshire coast.
This latest release builds on a previous introduction of 28,000 European flat oysters. Organizers noted that native oysters have not been present in these waters since the 1940s, making this a landmark achievement in marine restoration.
The project involves growing oyster larvae in Scotland and then transferring them to the estuary's intertidal zones. These oysters will filter pollutants and form reefs, providing crucial habitats for other marine life, a stark contrast to the estuary's once-abundant oyster reefs that were decimated by overfishing and pollution.
