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'Extinct' oysters return to Forth | 'Extinct' oysters return to Forth |
(about 23 hours later) | |
Live oysters have been found in the Firth of Forth - decades after they were declared extinct in the area, BBC Scotland can reveal. | Live oysters have been found in the Firth of Forth - decades after they were declared extinct in the area, BBC Scotland can reveal. |
Scientists said the discovery was hugely significant and could lead to future commercial production. | Scientists said the discovery was hugely significant and could lead to future commercial production. |
Forth oysters, once regarded as among the best in Britain, were wiped out through over-fishing. | |
But Stirling University scientists have discovered wild oysters in the firth which might be farmed commercially. | But Stirling University scientists have discovered wild oysters in the firth which might be farmed commercially. |
Dr Elizabeth Ashton of the University of Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture discovered the oysters at a secret location. | Dr Elizabeth Ashton of the University of Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture discovered the oysters at a secret location. |
With improving water quality in the Forth there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to re-establish them Dr Janet BrownUniversity of Stirling | With improving water quality in the Forth there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to re-establish them Dr Janet BrownUniversity of Stirling |
She recalled: "I put my wellies on and my raincoat and was walking along the slippery stones by the water's edge many times and then out of the corner of my eye I saw what I thought could be an oyster and the tide was still going out so I had to wait a while and yes it was a specimen of a native oyster. | She recalled: "I put my wellies on and my raincoat and was walking along the slippery stones by the water's edge many times and then out of the corner of my eye I saw what I thought could be an oyster and the tide was still going out so I had to wait a while and yes it was a specimen of a native oyster. |
Scottish oyster production is now centred on Loch Ryan in the south west, but once it was the Forth that produced a plentiful supply. | Scottish oyster production is now centred on Loch Ryan in the south west, but once it was the Forth that produced a plentiful supply. |
Dr Ashton said: "The Firth of Forth was once the major oyster fishery in Scotland and at its peak produced over 30 million oysters a year and they were exported all across Europe." | Dr Ashton said: "The Firth of Forth was once the major oyster fishery in Scotland and at its peak produced over 30 million oysters a year and they were exported all across Europe." |
Chef and owner of the Ondine restaurant in Edinburgh, Roy Brett specialises in shellfish. He relishes the prospect of Scottish east coast oysters. | Chef and owner of the Ondine restaurant in Edinburgh, Roy Brett specialises in shellfish. He relishes the prospect of Scottish east coast oysters. |
The location of the Forth oysters is a closely guarded secret | The location of the Forth oysters is a closely guarded secret |
He said: "This is the best oyster because it actually tastes of the sea. | He said: "This is the best oyster because it actually tastes of the sea. |
"When I told the guys in the kitchen that one day we might have Edinburgh oysters on, it was a good feeling. | "When I told the guys in the kitchen that one day we might have Edinburgh oysters on, it was a good feeling. |
"We know it's early days but just to hear that news, it's so encouraging." | "We know it's early days but just to hear that news, it's so encouraging." |
Dr Ashton and her colleagues at the University of Stirling believe that after the Forth oyster was declared extinct back in 1957, now nature is fighting back. | Dr Ashton and her colleagues at the University of Stirling believe that after the Forth oyster was declared extinct back in 1957, now nature is fighting back. |
Dr Janet Brown is also based at the Institute of Aquaculture. She said: "We thought that they had been overfished and it was pollution that had caused them to die out. | Dr Janet Brown is also based at the Institute of Aquaculture. She said: "We thought that they had been overfished and it was pollution that had caused them to die out. |
"Obviously some of them had survived and with improving water quality in the Forth there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to re-establish them." | "Obviously some of them had survived and with improving water quality in the Forth there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to re-establish them." |
And that could be on a commercial scale. | And that could be on a commercial scale. |
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