RWE and The Oyster Restoration Company (TORC) have completed a feasibility study showing that large-scale native oyster reef restoration can be carried out at offshore wind farms in the North Sea. The two partners jointly developed technical assessments and deployment strategies, covering engineering, installation, and verification methods. The research was supported by RWE and conducted at TORC’s hatchery in Scotland.
Flat oysters are a key species that form reef structures, offering food and breeding grounds for a range of marine life. However, only around 5% of the pre-industrial oyster population remains in the North Sea, following decades of overfishing, pollution and disease. The project tested natural and artificial hard substrates—such as shells and bricks—to determine which could best support new reef formation. Insights from the project are expected to guide offshore wind developers in contributing to marine habitat restoration across the North Sea, in both the UK and mainland Europe.
