More than 260 volunteers came together in Portsmouth to prepare 20,000 native oysters for deployment onto a newly built reef in Chichester Harbour, as part of the UK’s largest subtidal oyster reef restoration project. Led by Blue Marine Foundation alongside Chichester Harbour Conservancy and the University of Portsmouth, the initiative is restoring one of the Solent’s most threatened coastal habitats and marking a significant step forward for marine restoration in the UK.

For centuries, native oysters supported coastal communities across the Solent, but populations have declined by around 96 per cent due to overfishing, disease and poor water quality. The project aims to recover this lost species and reconnect the region with its maritime heritage, while improving water quality and creating habitat for hundreds of marine species.

ITV Meridian interviewed Blue Marine’s Restoration Science Manager, Dr Luke Helmer, explaining the importance of restoring the Solent’s oyster beds. Watch the full interview below.