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A shell of a solution: Oyster farming takes another step forward in saving the Mar Menor
Researchers plan to ‘recruit’ schoolchildren to help with the latest phase of the Mar Menor recovery project
The Mar Menor is still facing numerous environmental challenges but over the last few years, scientists and researchers believe they may have found a secret weapon to halt the decline of the lagoon’s unique biodiversity: oysters.
Oysters are known for their incredible ability to filter large quantities of water, making them a valuable asset in the fight against pollution. The researchers have been studying the growth of wild oysters in the Mar Menor and have been experimenting with introducing oyster reefs and mollusc baskets to the area.
Now, the culmination of the RemediOS-2 project, led by biologist Marina Albentosa, is set to take place early next year.
Between January and March 2025, the team will introduce 60 million oyster larvae into the Mar Menor. The larvae will be placed in a giant tank in the Marchamalo area, where they will be allowed to grow and thrive. The researchers hope that the oysters will help to purify the water and reduce the amount of excess nutrients in the lagoon.
In a truly pioneering move, the project aims to involve citizens, particularly children, in this next and vital phase of the recovery plan. The researchers will be working with schools in the area to introduce an ‘Oyster Gardening’ programme, where children and their families will be responsible for maintaining their own oyster baskets and monitoring their growth.
This programme will not only educate the next generation about the importance of marine conservation, according to Ms Albentosa, but will also provide valuable data for the researchers.
The team is still trying to determine the best spots to place the mollusc baskets. The pontoon of the Fishermen’s Guild in San Pedro del Pinatar has already been selected, and they are in talks with the Los Alcázares Town Council about a second anchoring point for the marine gardening project.
The latest reports confirm that this innovative approach is a highly sustainable business model, as the bivalves feed on excess nutrients in the Mar Menor, kick-starting a water filtration chain that benefits the environment as the oysters grow.
Moreover, the economic benefits generated by this project can be reinvested in further environmental recovery initiatives. This synergy between economic growth and environmental recovery perfectly embodies the concept of 'blue growth', where sustainable development and ecological conservation go hand in hand.
Also of interest: Why it is so difficult to solve the current problems in the Mar Menor
Images: IEO
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