Our native oysters say "No" to hand gathering!
A collaborative effort is underway to protect one of Scotland’s most threatened marine species, the native oyster Ostrea Edulis. Together, Highlands Rewilding, NatureScot, Friends of the Sound of Jura, and the Tayvallich community are taking practical steps to dissuade visitors from removing oysters from Loch Sween.
Four new signs have now been installed at key intertidal access points around Loch Sween MPA (Marine Protected Area), raising awareness of the legal protections surrounding native oysters and the urgent need to safeguard this fragile population.
Members of the Tayvallich Wildlife Club helped put four signs in place, warning of the illegality of native oyster hand gathering, and the urgent need to safeguard this fragile population
Cass Bromley, NatureScot Marine Enhancement Advisor, said, “NatureScot is working with Highlands Rewilding and Friends of the Sound of Jura to try and reduce illegal poaching at Loch Sween MPA. We hope the signs bring some clarity on how native oysters are protected under the law in Scotland. Collaborative efforts and community stewardship such as this are vital for protecting the marine environment.”
This action follows growing concern about the decline of native oysters (Ostrea edulis) in Loch Sween and surrounding waters. A 2024 survey led by Highlands Rewilding, covering one portion of the MPA, recorded fewer than 50 oysters across a 6km stretch of intertidal habitat. No juveniles were found, and individuals were widely dispersed.
While surveys are ongoing, with further dive and intertidal surveys being planned, Highlands Rewilding’s Marine Lead and native oyster specialist, Dr. David Smyth, says these recordings point to a ‘biologically non-functional population.’ He explains that while oysters are still present, they are too widely dispersed to reproduce effectively, making larval exchange highly unlikely.
The installation was carried out by Highlands Rewilding, funded by NatureScot, and supported by the community group and charity, Friends of the Sound of Jura. Children from the local wildlife club played a hands-on role in installing the signage, reflecting a shared commitment to protecting the loch.
Mary-Lou Aitchison, Founder of the Tayvallich Wildlife Club, said, ‘We are a group of families from Tayvallich who care about the future of the land and sea here. The children in the club will become tomorrow’s campaigners for nature, biodiversity and wild places.’
Ewan MacArthur, aged 12, said, ‘We’re putting these signs up, which say, “please leave the oysters on the sea bed and report anyone you see collecting them to the Police”.’
The absence of empty shells suggests that this decline is not driven by disease, but more likely by sustained harvesting pressure over time. See David Smyth's interview here:
While Loch Sween is designated as a Marine Protected Area (MPA), and native oysters are a protected feature within it, awareness of the specific legal protections remains limited.
Under Scots law, native oysters are not covered by public gathering rights. Within the MPA, all forms of oyster collection, whether by hand, dredge or trawl, are strictly prohibited.
Despite this, anecdotal evidence from the local community suggests that hand gathering has taken place for decades. As populations have declined, commercial activity has reduced, but small-scale collection by individuals may still be contributing to ongoing pressure.
The newly installed signage aims to address this knowledge gap directly, and protect any future oyster restoration efforts from the danger of hand gathering.
Most people gathering shellfish are not acting with malicious intent but simply lack awareness of both the law and the ecological fragility of the species. When populations are depleted, the removal of even a small number of oysters can significantly hinder any chance of recovery.
Illegal and unregulated shellfish gathering is not unique to Loch Sween. Across the UK, fisheries enforcement results in hundreds of prosecutions each year - yet marine offences like shellfish harvesting remain particularly difficult to police.
This highlights a broader challenge: protecting vulnerable marine species requires not only regulation, but widespread public understanding and community stewardship.
John Aitcheson, Chair of Friends of the Sound of Jura, has said, “Native oysters are very precious to the community here and to the sea – the ecosystem – so let’s treasure them, let’s look after them. Let’s not just see them as a resource that dwindles away until they’re gone. Let’s be proud of them.”
At Loch Sween, that stewardship is already taking shape.
Through collaboration between a science-led rewilding organisation, a national public body, local conservation groups, and the community itself, practical steps are being taken to protect and restore this iconic species.
The signage marks just one part of a wider effort; a public awareness film about Loch Sween’s oysters is also in development, aiming to further build understanding and support, and more surveys will be carried out to inform future stewardship.
Nature recovery in marine environments – like on land – depends on aligned action: science, policy, and people working together.