Restoration Forth

A project with communities and organisations to restore seagrass meadows and European flat oysters in the Firth of Forth.

A major marine restoration programme

Restoration Forth is a major marine restoration programme working with communities to restore seagrass habitats and European flat oyster populations in the Firth of Forth.

Restoration Forth will create a toolkit for marine restoration - inspiring communities in delivering further marine restoration efforts across Scotland, securing by 2030 at least 42 hectares of critical coastal habitat restored in the Firth of Forth, and influencing Scottish Government policy for stronger marine protection.

In 2022, the Restoration Forth partners completed habitat suitability assessments and comprehensive stakeholder consultations to determine the restoration sites and began working with communities. By the end of 2023, the project restored 1 hectare of seagrass and deployed the first European flat oysters into the Firth of Forth in 100 years. The project also trained hundreds of local community members in restoration techniques and skills.

By the close of the project in 2024, the project will have restored 4 hectares of seagrass and 30,000 European flat oysters.

This three year programme has been made possible by funding from Aviva, the ScottishPower Foundation, the Moondance Foundation, the estate of the late Ella MacGregor, and supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, through Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) facilitated grants.

Emmy smiling and holding up a native oyster into the air.

Why seagrass and oysters?

Both seagrass and oysters:

improve water quality
store carbon
support biodiversity
provide nursery habitats for fish

Seagrasses also reduce wave energy, which helps prevent coastal erosion; European flat oysters reduce excess nutrients in the water and stabilise the seabed, improving water quality and clarity.

Your views are very important to us and we take any feedback we receive seriously.

If you are unhappy or would like to comment on the project please do so here.

Upcoming Events

We are running events and activities this year to spread the word about the project. Join us to find out about your local marine environment and what you can do for its future and yours.

9 April - 9 May | Oyster Biosecurity

Date: Multiple date options between 9 April - 9 May

Time: 10am - 4pm

Location: Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh

Join us in the preparation of European flat oysters to be reintroduced to the Firth of Forth as part of the Restoration Forth project. These oysters are contributing to the restoration of European flat oysters in the Firth of Forth for the first time in 100 years!

The oysters will have previously been collected by the team from Little Loch Broom near Ullapool. We are inviting you to get involved in the biosecurity processes of oysters necessary for their movement to a restoration site and to join with lots of learning along the way.

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27 April | Marine Restoration workshop - make your voice heard!

Date: 27 April 2024

Time:1pm - 4pm

Location: The Heart of Newhaven Community, Edinburgh

Restoration Forth is a marine project working to restore European flat oysters and seagrass across the Firth of Forth, involving local communities.

We are passionate about creating positive change to our marine spaces, and believe that people can contribute to this change in many different ways.

Come along to our workshop to find out more of the context around marine protection and restoration and how you can make your voice heard within the policy process. It will be relaxed with plenty of opportunity for questions.

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29 April | Oyster Stringing Workshop

Date: 29 April 2024

Time: 10am - 4pm

Location: Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh

For successful restoration, we need to monitor the outcomes of our restoration efforts to find out how many oysters survive and grow. This informs future activities and is a really important part of the restoration process. To monitor our oysters, we attach them to strings using marine epoxy putty and then tether them to the seabed at our deployment sites. We are then able to collect information about these oysters to give us an indication of the overall health of the oyster population. We are delighted to invite you to help us in this process of oyster stringing!

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