Tonn Mòr cocktail oysters are perfect for parties. They are small, which is great if you’re nervous about trying your first oyster. They are sweet and have excellent texture, sure to satisfy connoisseurs.
Plump, healthy native oysters. One day we will have a farm full of these. We have a long way to go but we will succeed eventually.
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#oysters #sustainable #aquaculture #oysterfarm #continental #seafood #flatoyster
We will probably never sell many oysters - they taste too good so we’ll probably just eat them all ourselves.
These 2023-seed Pacifics have had a fantastic summer and are in very good condition.
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#oysters #seafood #shellfish #sustainable #lochnell
Our bio-secure hatchery may be small but it’s perfectly formed. Designed for close control over breeding genetics - it will act as a ‘nucleus’ where the focus is quality. Other hatcheries will be used as ‘multipliers’ to scale up the quantity.
Last week Tom was in Lombok, Indonesia with the WAVES Consortium, a UKRI-funded collaboration on shellfish aquaculture across Asia.
Researchers from UK, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia have been sharing strategies to improve mollusc farming, with a strong focus on hatcheries, genetics, and building resilience to climate change.
There’s also been a big emphasis on the environmental role of shellfish, from improving coastal ecosystems to supporting IMTA systems and reducing aquaculture impacts.
Alongside this, discussions around blue economics and environmental credits are gaining real momentum.
Tom brought a UK commercial perspective to the table, and took plenty of ideas home.
Oysters change sex regularly which makes breeding them complicated. We’re collaborating with University of St Andrews to develop a non-invasive method of determining their sex by screening their gene expression. Today we used a powerful microscope to measure gonad development in order to calibrate RNA assays of sex. Ultimately this will allow us fine control of breeding selections to give us maximum genetic progress in our spawning groups.
This is one of many ways we’re using cutting-edge science to help save this iconic species.
Part 2 of our visit to @native_aqua bio-secure hatchery. Tom explains why restoring the Native Oyster is so important for Scotlands marine ecosystem. Be in no doubt this could have an incredible impact on bringing even more life to our waters. Big fish eats little fish 🎣 and these guys provide that environment right at the base of the food chain ⛓️💥 Very exciting that this frontline research is being done here and The Tay will be the proving grounds for a system that could have a global impact ♥️
#standrewsuniversity #pioneeringresearch #dundee
What do you know about Oysters 🦪 🤷♂️ Meet Tom from @native_aqua who met me today at the Sea Mammal Research Unit in St Andrews. I found this fascinating 🤓 He’s one of many people there doing ground breaking research. This is a complex subject so I have two 6 minute ish films. This is your crash course is oyster farming and tomorrows is more about how do we get them back into our seas boosting our marine ecosystem 🫶
Please take the time to have a watch and listen. Tom will answer any questions in the comments 🧠
Many people feel a “buzz” after eating native oysters (Ostrea edulis) - it isn’t just in your head. These remarkable shellfish are packed with zinc, which supports dopamine (your brain’s reward chemical), along with amino acids that help boost alertness and mood. Add in iron and B12 for energy, and it’s no surprise they leave you feeling lifted. Combine that with the fresh, briny sensory hit of the sea which gives an endorphin rush, and you’ve got a natural, nutrient-powered glow in every shell
We are delighted to welcome RossAmy Wareing to the Native Aqua team!
RossAmy is an experienced expert in oyster hatchery design and management and brings her deep understanding of oyster biology to our operation.
Aside from oysters she has a broad background in aquaculture hatchery operations, spanning fin fish, micro algae, artemia and rotifer production, even sea urchins.
Her skills in disease testing and laboratory PCR analysis will be a great strength as we build our science-led breeding programme.
Welcome RossAmy!
We are very proud to be partnering with @seawilding - an Argyll based charity focussing on re-establishment of oysters and seagrass. The team at Seawilding have been restoring the native oyster population in Loch Craignish with hatchery bred oysters.
This week Tom visited their site to take DNA samples from wild oysters that have settled naturally in the loch. Our aim is to use neutral genetic markers - the so called DNA fingerprint - to determine if the wild oysters are descendants of the stock placed in the loch by Seawilding.
We are using modern DNA sequencing science to validate this vital grass-roots nature conservation work.
