Bathing may also be hazardous. - Sylt oysters are causing the demise of mussels.
In 1985, there were conditions set for oyster farming on Sylt that required farmers to use a specific oyster species that couldn't settle. Rainer Borcherding, a marine biologist at the Wadden Sea Protection Station, explained this to the "Schleswig-Holsteinischer Zeitungsverlag" (shz) newspapers.
The Pacific oyster, or Sylt Royal (Crassostrea pacifica), was selected for its rapid growth and abundant mussel meat. However, researchers made an alarming discovery after five years: the oyster was discovering it could reproduce on its own and found ideal conditions in the warmer North Sea.
At first, the oyster spread across the mudflats of Sylt, and now it's been located on the neighboring island of Föhr. Unfortunately, holidaymakers are accidentally stepping on these oysters hidden in the sand. This leads to multiple injuries every week. Visitors have even been taken to the hospital with deep cuts.
On top of the human health risks, the oyster's reproduction and settlement disrupt the ecosystem. They make their homes in the same area as the native mussels, displacing them. This change affects local wildlife, like herring gulls, eider ducks, and oystercatchers. Their food source, which used to be the mussel, is now harder to reach.
"We've observed that our native mussels are being pushed out by these oysters," said Annette Hahn, head of the Wadden Sea Protection Station, to the "shz" paper.
Currently, there's no hope of getting rid of these oysters. Previously, an attempt was made to dredge them all up. But they quickly returned the following year.
Read also:
- Halle transfers Halili from Jena.
- Knorr holds an edge at home against an intimidated rival.
- What's the cost of acquiring Kompany in Bayern?
- Shocking Bayer setback for Lookman in Germany
Source: symclub.org