Let ’ s kick off 2023 with some thoughts on rewilding from BSAC Expeditions Advisor , Andy Hunt
Join Operation Oyster ’ s liveaboard adventure
THE FIRST MAJOR OPERATION OYSTER expedition of 2023 is all set for this spring , offering BSAC members the chance to help the UK ’ s declining native oyster populations .
Running from 30 March to 5 April , the Operation Oyster expedition will explore Scotland ’ s west coast , taking in Loch Craignish and Jura . Based on board the liveaboard MV Clasina , the expedition is open to Dive Leaders and above and there are still spaces for more BSAC members to join the team .
Launched back in 2021 , Operation Oyster is one of the largest marine environment initiatives ever organised by BSAC and aims to help research and restore the UK ’ s native oyster populations .
The native oyster has experienced a 95 % decline in numbers over the last 150 years due to overfishing , pollution and habitat destruction . By engaging divers and BSAC clubs in a range of citizen science opportunities , Operation Oyster hopes to help turn the tide of this decline . Data and evidence gathered by the project will feed directly into partnership projects focused on restoring native oyster populations around the UK .
During this latest week-long exped to Scotland , team members will take part in dive surveys of known and possible native oyster
beds . The intention is to gather evidence of populations and obtain data which will help to inform wider understanding of the UK ’ s historic oyster reefs .
As well as dive surveys and site exploration , members will also get the chance to explore remote seagrass beds .
The expedition team will also join up with Operation Oyster Partner , Seawilding to help pilot
BSAC ’ s new Underwater
Surveyor course . Operation Oyster project leader , Andy Hunt said this latest expedition is all set to be a challenging but rewarding week . “ This expedition is a chance to not only explore some of the more remote sites along the west coast of
Scotland , but to also contribute to the knowledge we have on our beleaguered native oyster . It is the ideal way to combine adventure with citizen science that can make a difference .”
Places on the expedition are limited and cost £ 1,100 for the week , including accommodation , meals onboard , air fills and a minimum of two dives per day . For more information on the expedition or to book a space email Andy at info @ vectisexpeditions . co . uk
For more information on Operation Oyster and other ways you and your club can get involved , go to bsac . com / operationoyster
MANY OF US WILL HAVE HAD THE experience of missing a wreck site , only to dive ‘ HMS Vicinity ’... but how many would say that error resulted in a better dive than the one the shot line missed ? In my case , only once in a 32 year diving career when I just happened to be diving in a highly protected marine reserve . Instead of an underwater pinnacle , I landed on a very flat seabed . Unusually , it was stuffed full of crabs and scallops the size of dinner plates . Wouldn ’ t it be good if all our seabed was full of life like this ?
Rewilding the sea to realise visions like this is going to take time , money and actions on all levels , from government all the way down to individuals . Thankfully , there is now a groundswell of public support amid a growing awareness that we desperately need to restore the health of our oceans here in the UK and overseas . Organisations such as BSAC Operation Oyster partners BLUE , ZSL , University of Portsmouth and Seawilding are already on the case .
Divers also have a role to play – it ’ s been great to see so many BSAC members diving with purpose as part of our own Project Operation Oyster in 2022 but also fully booking Seawilding ’ s 2023 seagrass harvesting event , seawilding . org , within days of its announcement .
So , as you plan your dives for 2023 , can I encourage you to consider including an environmental project dive or two ? Then we can all play a small part in saving the blue planet that we as divers are all privileged to see first-hand .