<
https://theconversation.com/oysters-once-crowded-europes-coast-heres-how-we-discovered-these-long-forgotten-reefs-244004>
"Six generations ago, Europe’s seas possessed vast oyster reefs. Oysters were
found in their millions, clustered together in reef systems that spanned
hundreds of square kilometres. Now the reefs are gone and with them, our
collective understanding of what the sea used to look like.
Throughout the 1800s and probably earlier, each August would bring Oyster Day:
when the bustling streets of London were lined with stalls selling oysters.
Children would build grottos from the shells and pester passers-by for pennies
for their efforts, with cries of “Pray remember the grotto!”. This cultural
tradition, and the reefs that enabled it, are now long forgotten.
Nonetheless, European flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) occupy a place in our
history. Ancient Roman writings mention oyster farms off the coast of Italy and
trade for oysters occurring as far north as Scotland. Oysters were beloved by
the aristocracy at the same time as they provided protein for the very poorest.
Their bounty inspired festivals, poems and art.
As demand for oysters grew during the industrial revolution, fisheries expanded
and oysters were stripped from further afield to feed the rapidly growing urban
market. Young oysters were traded internationally to prop up failing fisheries
nearer big cities, leading to the misconception that the supply was stable.
Some newly discovered beds were eradicated within weeks.
Fishers and government authorities were already worried about declining oyster
populations by the early 1800s. A century later, wild populations had collapsed
and, today, European oysters are hard to find outside of upmarket restaurants.
The weathered shells that are sometimes found on beaches are usually hundreds
or even thousands of years old – a faint ghost of the oyster reefs that used to
lie beneath the waves nearby."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
