Tag: oysters

Newhaven mural celebrates restoration project

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A visual legacy celebrating a project aimed at restoring seagrass and oysters to the Firth of Forth has been unveiled.

The mural in the grounds of the Heart of Newhaven Community Centre celebrates the innovative Restoration Forth initiative which aims to bring back seagrass meadows and European flat oysters to the waterway.

Edinburgh based mural artist and illustrator Natasha Russell was commissioned by the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh to bring to life the restoration activities across the Forth. 

Local residents, alongside pupils from Victoria Primary School, attended workshops to explore what the themes and design of the artwork would be.

Artist Natasha Russell said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with the local community and Restoration Forth, RBGE and Heart of Newhaven in order to design this mural.

“Through creating the artwork we wanted to celebrate and help to spark interest in the return of oysters to the Firth of Forth and the ways that they can benefit local communities once again by enhancing water quality and supporting biodiversity. The mural also looks to capture the story of how the oysters in the Forth used to support fishing communities in Newhaven and highlights how our relationship with this species has changed over time.

“Through painting the mural at the Heart of Newhaven we hope to support the lively environment of this community space and to make an artwork that is accessible to the wide range of people who pass this wall.”

Workshop participant Beth Cockerline said: “It was so lovely to come together to discuss the mural , the local community and learn about the beauty and importance of the oysters.

“I’ve been telling everyone how cool and vital they are.”

Workshop participant Lucy Neville said: “I have loved the opportunity to be involved in the mural workshops. The Forth was once such a biodiverse estuary filled with life that supported us communities.

“Volunteering with Restoration Forth has given me the faith that it can be that way again. And the mural will be a daily reminder of our history, present and potential future, as a community that is part of the river and sea.”

Heart of Newhaven is a community hub for the Restoration Forth project, aiming to engage local people with efforts to restore and enhance the Firth of Forth.

Judy Crabb, Chair of Heart of Newhaven said: “It is a great privilege for us to be the location for a beautiful mural that represents such an important part of the heritage of this area.  We can’t wait to share it with everyone that visits the Heart for years to come.”

The oyster beds around the Firth of Forth were some of the most famous in Scotland over the 17th and 18th centuries.   Oysters were significant for jobs, the economy and diet in the local Newhaven and Leith areas. 

The ‘Newhaven Fishwives’ would sell oysters around Edinburgh and were a prominent part of the community.  Some records show that nearly 30 million oysters were fished from the Firth of Forth annually.  Unfortunately, overfishing and industrial development led to the local extinction of oysters in the area. 

We now understand a lot more about the benefits of oysters within an ecosystem. Where there are oyster reefs, you can also find juvenile fish, crabs, sea snails, sponges and more! By reintroducing European flat oysters to the Firth of Forth, we’re creating a sanctuary for a vast array of marine life.  Recent research suggests that by restoring healthy oyster beds, biodiversity could potentially double over a 10-year period.

Restoration Forth was recently announced as a finalist at the Nature of Scotland Awards.

The aim of Restoration Forth, a partnership with communities and organisations, is to restore 4 hectares of seagrass meadows and European flat oyster beds in the Firth of Forth. Partners delivering Restoration Forth include WWF, Edinburgh Shoreline, Fife Coast & Countryside Trust, Heriot Watt University, Marine Conservation Society, Project Seagrass, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scottish Seabird Centre, The Ecology Centre, and The Heart of Newhaven Community. 

This three-year programme has been made possible by funding from Aviva, the Moondance Foundation, the ScottishPower Foundation, and Sky; this project is also supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, facilitated by the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund, and managed by NatureScot. 

PICTURE: ANDREW PERRY

Victoria Primary School Head Teacher Rhian Chapman cuts the ribbon with some of the pupils that were involved in the mural design workshops

SCOTTISH OYSTERS FOR £2.99?

AW SHUCKS, ALDI, YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE … !

It may not be the Valentine’s Day we expected, but lockdown lovers and sassy singletons can still indulge from the comfort of their own home with Aldi’s Specialbuy Scottish Oysters.  

On sale from today (11th February), there’s no need to shell out for the romantic delicacy, because love struck Aldi customers can pick up a pack of six fresh Scottish Oysters for just £2.99 (360g).  

They do say the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach and at these everyday amazing prices, there really is no reason to be shellfish this Valentine’s Day.  

The oysters are being supplied to Aldi specially for Valentine’s Day by a co-operative of small-scale shellfish farmers based on the West Coast of Scotland, who belong to the Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group. 

Grown in mesh bags that are laid on low trestles on the shore at the low tide mark, the oysters grow naturally by feeding from the nutrient-rich tidal flows of Scotland’s seas. As the oysters grow, they are checked daily by the farmers and regularly sorted by hand to ensure optimum quality.  

Derek Sharp, Commercial Manager at Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group, said: “With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it is great to see Aldi support our small-scale farmers, who work collaboratively to provide the best quality oysters. 

“Our oyster farms are Friend of the Sea certified, which demonstrates the use of responsible management systems, sustainability of production, social accountability and full traceability. Aldi customers can be confident that they are buying top quality produce.” 

Although typically associated with all things romance, oysters also boast a wealth of health benefits. Rich in both vitamins and minerals, they are a fantastic source of Omega-3, meaning that it won’t just be your other half looking after your heart this Valentine’s Day.  

Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “Oysters are known to be a delicacy, and we are really pleased to be working with the Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group to give our customers a taste of luxury, at excellent value, this Valentine’s Day.  

“This is another step forward in our championing of top-tier Scottish produce, and a chance for customers to celebrate their love in style. Aldi’s oysters will make the perfect appetiser for a special Valentine’s feast at home.” 

Aldi’s fresh Scottish oysters are available from all UK stores from today (11th February) while stocks last. You can find your nearest Aldi store here.  

‘A day in the life’ of an oyster farmer 

Gordon Turnbull, Isle of Mull Oysters Ltd 

“An oyster farmer’s schedule depends on the tide and my days are dictated by the moon. Typically, I’ll arrive at my oyster shed on the Isle of Mull around 7am to sort and grade the oysters from the previous day.  

“I’ll wait for the tide to go out which reveals our trestle tables, home to between three and four million oysters at any one time.  

“Then its go, go, go. The oysters that aren’t ready for market are returned to the shore. We’re really working against the tide as we only have a short window, between two and three hours, when our trestle tables are visible above the water.  

When the tide comes back in we can take a short break and then its all go again a few hours later in the afternoon. 

“This is my typical day during spring tide, which occurs twice each lunar month, during full or new moons when the average tidal ranges are slightly larger. A typical spring tide lasts for about seven to 10 days and during this time, we work seven days a week. 

“Neap tides occur twice a month as well: when the sun and moon are at right angles to the Earth. When this happens, the tide does not go out far enough for us to access our trestle tables, so it’s a time for the oysters to relax and concentrate on growing, and I can get on with paperwork and general maintenance on the farm. 

“It takes an oyster three to four years before it is ready for market, so there is a lot of checking and sorting involved in the job. It’s important that as the oysters grow, they are rearranged so that they live next to ones of similar size: this helps the oysters get sufficient nutrients from the sea and allows them to grow at an optimum rate. 

“The conditions at the moment are perfect for harvesting oysters. High pressure is great because it makes the tide go out more, and that combined with clear, cold days is just ideal. Oysters tend to triple in size between June and October, so we spend the winter months sorting and harvesting, and the summer months sorting and carrying out the husbandry that creates the best possible oyster.  

“Being part of the Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group has been so important in helping me to grow my business, particularly over the past year. The work they do on behalf of us is just terrific, and it allows us to put all our focus on growing the best tasting oysters.” 

Don’t know how to shuck?  

Ideally you need an oyster shucking knife, but any other type of stout, short-bladed knife will do.  

  1. Wrap a tea towel over one hand and use it to hold the oyster firmly, the flattened side facing upwards. 
  2. In the other hand, place the tip of the shucking knife at the base of the hinge (sharp end of the oyster), twist the knife using pressure, then lever the knife upwards, or twist it to prise the hinge open.  
  3. Slide the knife right along and under the top shell to release the oyster and remove the top shell.  
  4. Try and hold the oyster level so as not to spill any tasty juices (especially if you are eating raw).  
  5. Use the knife to cut along the bottom shell to make sure the oyster is free and clear of that shell too. 

Serve the oysters as soon as possible after opening. They can be enjoyed as they are, or with a simple squirt of lemon juice. Many people enjoy with a sprinkle of tabasco sauce. 

Grilled Oysters with Butter 

By Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group 

Serves 2 people 

Ingredients  

6 whole live oysters 

2 cloves of garlic 

2 tablespoons of olive oil 

3 tablespoons of unsalted Scottish butter, softened  

Squeeze of lemon juice 

Cracked black pepper  

1 tablespoon of parsley, chopped very finely  

Method  

Prep: 10 minutes 

Cook: 4 minutes 

Ready in: 14 minutes 

  1. In a bowl, mix together all of the sauce ingredients until well combined. 
  2. To keep the oysters upright, use piles of rock salt or rice if you don’t have any salt.  
  3. Divide the butter mixture between the shell and place under the grill for 2-4 minutes.