This dataset has been developed to determine where there are suitable environmental conditions for native oyster restoration . It has been developed as part of the Wales Native Oyster Action Plan.
The dataset builds upon work carried out by ABPMer for Natural Resources Wales (NRW) with additional work by NRW. It is a composite dataset of suitable physical parameters and suitable habitat for oysters to live. This includes current energy <130nm-2, water depths of under 80m and subtidal mixed, coarse or macrophyte dominated sediments. Inshore areas were added where the model input layers were too coarse and the areas were considered suitable by NRW specialists.
It is important to note that the native oyster potential restoration areas have been produced using environmental variables only. Consideration has not been given to any human induced environmental (e.g. climate change, overexploitation, pollution etc.) or human capacity constraints (e.g. seabed use, licences, regulations and policies etc.) that may impact any restoration efforts. The outputs therefore represent a starting point in which to focus effort, with a view that further investigations will need to be undertaken before proceeding with a plan or project to restore or create native oyster habitat in any given location.
Further work is being carried out by NRW in partnership with others to determine where these possible areas might be refined into more feasible as part of a wider work stream to deliver enhanced resilience of Welsh seas in line with the Environment Act objectives and Section 6 duty (‘to maintain and enhance resilience of ecosystems’). The wider programme will focus on co-development of tools including narratives, maps and data that identify and communicate where and what the most significant opportunities are to enhance the resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems in Wales.
Only a redacted version of this data is available under the Open Governance Licence and available for public use, see Limitation on Public Access and Use Constraints.
