Ecology and wildlife experts are utilizing discoveries made through the Gaelic and Scots languages to help rebuild oyster populations along Scotland's coast. The initiative, known as Project Eisirean, is a multi-year collaboration between the University of Glasgow, local community groups, and experts in ecology, environment, and Gaelic and education.
Dr. Anna McGregor, a lecturer at the University of Glasgow specializing in coastal ecology, conceived the idea of locating historical oyster beds by searching traditional place-names. This approach was then combined with scientific methods to confirm the presence of oysters in these named locations.
"This is a really exciting outcome, for a project that started off looking for the historic distribution of oysters along the West Coast," McGregor explained. "We thought that as native oysters are now really rare throughout Europe, is there a way to look where they used to be, using people's memory and understanding - that can come through place names."
Initial searches focused on place-names containing the Gaelic or Scots words for oyster. This led to the identification of two areas on the Isle of Mull and a third on Lewis. The project later expanded to include habitat-related place-names, such as those indicating sandbanks.
Once potential locations were identified through linguistic analysis, researchers examined factors such as seabed conditions and water flow levels to assess their suitability for oyster habitats.
Building on these findings, Dr. McGregor hopes to continue working with communities on Islay and Mull to support oyster bed restoration and protection efforts in key areas. The team is currently trialing the feasibility of a mobile oyster hatchery, with the aim of supplying oyster larvae to coastal communities and aiding in the rebuilding of oyster beds.
The first mobile hatchery is undergoing trials in Millport, with plans for further trials in the future. "What we are hoping is to connect knowledge of the past, where shellfish was an important part of people's diets, to future improvement," McGregor stated. "We want to look where shellfish used to be, where communities had a connection with them, and develop that again."
She further elaborated on the potential of small-scale hatcheries, noting their sustainability on islands and their ability to foster community connection with marine life. Understanding the oyster life cycle, she believes, can enhance public appreciation for the importance of wild oyster populations and contribute to their recovery for various uses, including potential harvesting.
The Native Oyster Restoration Alliance (NORA), which coordinates oyster reef restoration projects across Europe, views Project Eisirean as a valuable model. Hein Sas, secretary of NORA, commented that the project "can serve as an example for other projects on how cultural heritage can help to identify suitable restoration sites."