News

Exploring the potential of oyster farms in supporting sustainable food production and coastal protection

In the beginning of April, Hannah Bard joined Roem van Yerseke at one of their oyster farms to deploy wave sensors around the site. As interest grows in the water quality and ecological benefits of oysters so too does the conversation around their role in climate resilience.

Oyster reefs, particularly in hybrid forms, are gaining traction as natural infrastructure to understand how they can help attenuate wave energy and support sediment build-up. But could these same processes occur with baskets of oysters already in place on the farms?

The oyster farming industry in the Netherlands is well-established and poised for further growth with increasing interest in sustainable farming. This opens up a question: could these aquaculture spaces serve a dual purpose—supporting both sustainable food production and coastal protection?

With the deployment of the wave sensors, we’re now taking the first steps to explore this potential. This data, along with regular topographic measurements, will help us understand how existing oyster farming structures and methods interact with wave energy and sediment dynamics.

A big thank you to Roem van Yerseke for their collaboration and support during the deployment!