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Motion · S6M-10736 · 3 Oct 2023

Historic Return of Native Oysters to the Firth of Forth

Lodged by Finlay Carson (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) Standard Motion 34 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament acknowledges what it sees as the historic return of native oysters to the Firth of Forth, after an absence of 100 years; welcomes warmly what it considers to be a ground-breaking restoration project, which will see a total of 30,000 oysters reintroduced to create a new oyster reef that will provide a vital habitat for many other species including fish, crabs, sea snails and sponges; notes that the oysters will also filter water and improve water clarity, allowing more light to penetrate through to the seabed to boost plants like seagrass to photosynthesise and grow; believes that historically enormous native oyster beds provide an important source for food and livelihoods; understands that the native oysters being introduced to the Firth of Forth were sourced and supplied from Little Loch Broom, where they were treated onsite to adhere to stringent biosecurity protocols before deployment; recognises that the project is being funded by Aviva, the ScottishPower Foundation and the Moondance Foundation, and is also being supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, through the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund; notes that the partners delivering Restoration Forth include WWF, Edinburgh Shoreline, Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, Heriot-Watt University, the Marine Conservation Society, Project Seagrass, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, the Scottish Seabird Centre, the Ecology Centre and The Heart of Newhaven Community; wishes the project every success in the future; recognises that the Loch Ryan Oyster Fishery Company employs two fishermen full time, who are harvesting the largest oysters for market, and relaying the seed oysters into known beds; notes that the Wallace family was given the oyster rights in Loch Ryan in 1701 by King William III, which have remained in the family ever since, and understands that David and Tristan Hugh-Jones joined the Wallace family in 1996, with the aim of restoring the wild native oyster fishery back to full production.

Supporters (34)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.