Oysters will 'help clear up' water in harbour

Nearly 50,000 oysters are being used to improve water quality in St Helier Harbour, Jersey.

The mature oysters have been placed in the harbour because they are "highly efficient" at improving water quality through their natural filtration process, according to the Ports of Jersey.

It said a single oyster could filter up to 190 litres of water each day, and the triploid oysters placed in the harbour could collectively filter about 9,500,000 litres of water daily.

The Ports of Jersey said they were "expected to significantly enhance" the harbour's the ecological health.

The Ports of Jersey's head of maritime operations, Louise Stafford, said: "Oysters, small but mighty, possess an incredible ability to filter water.

"We are aiming to harness this natural skill to further improve water quality in the harbour."

The oysters have been placed beneath Albert Pier, under the St Helier marina access ramp, and next to the accommodation pods in St Helier Marina.

They are using triploid oysters, which are sterile and do not reproduce, allowing them to grow faster, providing consistent water filtration, the Ports of Jersey said.

Chris Le Masurier, owner of Jersey Oyster Company, which provided the oysters, said: "We aim to make St Helier Harbour a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment for future generations."

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