900 oysters now cleaning Carrick Marina's water, councillors told
An oyster nursery has also been installed at Glenarm Marina in association with Ulster Wildlife.
The report said: 'In addition to supporting the expansion of wild populations, the oysters will help boost biodiversity and improve water quality by filtering pollutants.'
Existing oyster reefs have been proven to protect considerable stores of carbon, which can avoid further releases of carbon into the atmosphere.
Commenting on the biodiversity project at the meeting, DUP councillor Billy Ashe said: 'I do not see a huge impact of putting them into the marina. We should be putting them closer to where people are swimming in the sea to improve water quality.'
An officer replied the project involved working with Ulster Wildlife to identify the best location for the oysters.
Mr Ashe remarked: 'People are swimming at Fisherman's Quay, not swimming in the marina. It is against by-laws to swim at the marina.'
The Carrick project is the third of its kind in Northern Ireland. There are currently 16 restoration projects in the UK, one of which is an oyster nursery at Bangor Marina.
At Glenarm Marina, oysters from Loch Ryan in Scotland have been placed in cages and bags hanging below pontoons. The nursery facility will remain in place for four years with monitoring by Ulster Wildlife.
It is understood an oyster nursery can improve water quality at marinas, with one oyster able to filter eight litres of water an hour.
Ulster Wildlife says in Northern Ireland, extensive oyster beds are known to have existed in Belfast Lough, Carlingford Lough and Lough Foyle for several hundred years and Glenarm has also been home to native oyster beds.
Carrickfergus was the heart of Belfast Lough's thriving native oyster industry in the 1850s. However, overfishing and disease led to their disappearance.
In March, Dr Nick Baker-Horne, marine conservation manager at Ulster Wildlife, said: 'This is a significant step forward in helping to restore one of our most valuable native species. A growing native oyster population will have far-reaching benefits for the wider marine environment.
'These small but mighty creatures create vital habitat for juvenile fish as their larvae settle on the seabed and dramatically improve water quality. One oyster can filter a bathtub of water per day.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Education Minister pays tribute to ‘remarkable' former Co Down principal following passing
John Wilkinson had been in teaching for more than three decades, 19 years of which were spent at Dromore High School. Mr Wilkinson was awarded an OBE in 2013 for his contributions to education in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. While principal, he helped lead the Co Down school to recognition for academic excellence and it was designated as a Specialist School for Science. Education Minister Paul Givan paid his respects to the senior education figure who 'dedicated his life to serving others and shaping the lives of young people across Northern Ireland'. The DUP MLA said: 'Throughout his long and distinguished career, John embodied the very best of our education system — professionalism, compassion, and a deep commitment to excellence. He approached every role with humility, wisdom, and a quiet strength that earned the respect and admiration of colleagues, pupils, and the wider community. 'In recognition of his outstanding contribution to education, John was awarded an OBE in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours List — a richly deserved honour that reflected the esteem in which he was held. 'John's legacy is one of quiet but profound influence — a legacy that will be felt for generations. A devout Christian who served as Clerk of Session in First Dromore Presbyterian he will be remembered not only for his many achievements, but for the values he lived by and inspired in others. 'My thoughts are with his family and all who knew and respected him at this difficult time, especially Hazel, Jonathan and Joanna." Beyond the school gates, Mr Wilkinson was also on the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) where he was Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and Interim Vice-Chair of Council. Mr Wilkinson was also a Non-Executive Director with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust. The Co Down man is survived by his wife, Hazel, children, Jonathan and Joanne, and grandchildren Oscar, Darcie, Maisie and Kasie.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- The Independent
First recorded sighting of rare dragonfly in Belfast hailed by conservationists
The first recorded sighting of a rare type of dragonfly in Belfast has been hailed by conservationists. The black-tailed skimmer dragonfly was spotted by volunteers at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve in the west of the city last week. Nature conservation charity Ulster Wildlife say it is the first such recorded sighting in Belfast and only the second sighting in County Antrim. Volunteers David Littlejohn and Ellen Sheridan described how they had been taking a short break from litter picking when they noticed a flurry of dragonfly activity and stopped to observe. They managed to photograph the black-tailed skimmer along with a female emperor dragonfly and a common darter. Ulster Wildlife said the black-tailed skimmer has a very limited distribution in Northern Ireland, particularly in the east of the region, with few records overall, and described its presence at Bog Meadows as a 'significant find, underlining the importance of this urban wildlife haven'. It comes after habitat improvements carried out at the nature reserve in recent years by the charity that manages the 47-acre site. The newly created pond and scrapes provide the ideal open water and bare bank habitat favoured by dragonflies. Mr Littlejohn, who photographed the rare creature, said they had noticed more dragonflies recently than ever before but hadn't expected to spot something so rare. 'It's fantastic to see the nature reserve supporting such a variety of species,' he said. Ms Sheridan added: 'The black-tailed skimmer was a real highlight! It really shows how important it is to protect places like this for wildlife.' Dawn Patterson, community engagement officer at Bog Meadows with Ulster Wildlife, said the discovery is a 'testament to the hard work of our volunteers and the improvements we've made to the habitats here at Bog Meadows'. 'To find the first black-tailed skimmer for Belfast – and only the second for County Antrim – right in the heart of the city shows what's possible when we create the right conditions for nature to thrive,' she said. 'Bog Meadows continues to surprise us with its growing list of wildlife highlights, and we hope this inspires more people to visit and get involved.' Last year, the Bog Meadows Nature Reserve was the scene for an eight-year-old schoolboy discovering a rare water stick insect. Kohen Fitzsimmons made the discovery, which was the first record of the species in Northern Ireland, while pond dipping with classmates from his school. Ulster Wildlife said the 'urban oasis is on the map as a haven for biodiversity'.
BreakingNews.ie
08-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
First recorded sighting of rare dragonfly in Belfast hailed by conservationists
The first recorded sighting of a rare type of dragonfly in Belfast has been hailed by conservationists. The black-tailed skimmer dragonfly was spotted by volunteers at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve in the west of the city last week. Advertisement Nature conservation charity Ulster Wildlife say it is the first such recorded sighting in Belfast and only the second sighting in Co Antrim. Volunteers David Littlejohn and Ellen Sheridan described how they had been taking a short break from litter picking when they noticed a flurry of dragonfly activity and stopped to observe. They managed to photograph the black-tailed skimmer along with a female emperor dragonfly and a common darter. The rare black-tailed skimmer dragonfly was discovered at Ulster Wildlife's Bog Meadows Nature Reserve by David Littlejohn and Ellen Sheridan (David Littlejohn/UlsterWildlife/PA) Ulster Wildlife said the black-tailed skimmer has a very limited distribution in the North, particularly in the east of the region, with few records overall, and described its presence at Bog Meadows as a 'significant find, underlining the importance of this urban wildlife haven'. Advertisement It comes after habitat improvements carried out at the nature reserve in recent years by the charity that manages the 47-acre site. The newly created pond and scrapes provide the ideal open water and bare bank habitat favoured by dragonflies. Mr Littlejohn, who photographed the rare creature, said they had noticed more dragonflies recently than ever before but hadn't expected to spot something so rare. 'It's fantastic to see the nature reserve supporting such a variety of species,' he said. Ms Sheridan added: 'The black-tailed skimmer was a real highlight! It really shows how important it is to protect places like this for wildlife.' Advertisement Dawn Patterson, community engagement officer at Bog Meadows with Ulster Wildlife, said the discovery is a 'testament to the hard work of our volunteers and the improvements we've made to the habitats here at Bog Meadows'. 'To find the first black-tailed skimmer for Belfast – and only the second for Co Antrim – right in the heart of the city shows what's possible when we create the right conditions for nature to thrive,' she said. 'Bog Meadows continues to surprise us with its growing list of wildlife highlights, and we hope this inspires more people to visit and get involved.' Eight-year-old Kohen Fitzsimmons found the first recorded location of a water stick insect in Northern Ireland in Bog Meadows Nature Reserve (Ulster Wildlife/PA) Lifestyle Living example of traditional farmland safeguarded... Read More Last year, the Bog Meadows Nature Reserve was the scene for an eight-year-old schoolboy discovering a rare water stick insect. Advertisement Kohen Fitzsimmons made the discovery, which was the first record of the species in the North, while pond dipping with classmates from his school. Ulster Wildlife said the 'urban oasis is on the map as a haven for biodiversity'.
