Vectis Expeditions, A BSAC Centre of Excellence specialising in expeditionary diver training, provided training for the Orkney Sub Aqua Club in support of their contribution to the Bay of Firth Oyster restoration project.

Orkney Sub Aqua Club are not new to citizen science having recently participated in the dress rehearsal pilot course for the BSAC Underwater Surveyor course before it was launched just over a year ago.

The Bay of Firth native oyster restoration project in Orkney is a community-based project led by Northbay Innovations Ltd, an innovator of micro hatcheries for lobsters and now native flat oysters.  They kindly helped fund the training courses.

This project is a great example of the benefits of native oyster restoration project, that have been promoted by the Native Oyster Network for the past 5 years.

A key benefit for marine life loving divers (and snorkellers) is that the ecology will benefit from the restoration of native oyster beds by increasing the abundance and variety of marine life in the bay to levels last seen over 150 year ago.  Benefits to the wider community include employment, tourism and educational opportunities.

Sport divers and snorkellers can help support this project and similar projects now by supporting the citizen science project BSAC Operation Oyster to help finding remnant populations of native oysters or more likely in the case of this project the evidence in the form of shells for were they used to be as these could help inform where the new beds could be re-created.

Although Vectis Expeditions did deliver some Underwater Surveyor training to complement that the club had already undertaken, the main training requirement was supporting delivery of a Boat Handling Course practical training so Orkney Sub Aqua Club members have more qualified coxswains to handle the club dive RIB and get divers to and from the site.

Thanks to Dennis Gowland and Richard Land from Northbay Innovation Ltd for their support to the project and Orkney Sub Aqua Club members Lee, Laura, Penny, Emma, Katherine and Nick Lyon for their dedication and determination to go diving and training in beautifully bracing conditions.

Andy Hunt said “This a great example of diving for a purpose with citizen scientists contributing to a real and local community project.  BSAC training is ideally placed to provide the full range of expeditionary and project diving skills necessary to complete such a project and Orkney Sub Aqua Club are taking full advantage of that to develop the skills of their members.”

Dennis Gowland, Founder of Northbay Innovations and local project lead said  “We’re keen to ensure the community above and below water is fully engaged in this project otherwise is will not work.  Whilst I can no longer dive, I have fond memories of diving with Orkney Sub Aqua Club and recognise the valuable contribution of trained volunteer divers.  We look forward to continued input from the club as the project develops.”

Lee Spense, Chairman of Orkney Sub Aqua Club said “Just wanted to send a quick note of HUGE appreciation from everyone at the Orkney Sub Aqua Club. Your help this past weekend with getting several members further along in their Diver Coxswain practical training was invaluable! This training is critical in ensuring we have properly qualified personnel for all our future activities. On top of that, the presentation and dive you led on the Oyster restoration project was incredibly informative and interesting. I had no idea oyster fishing was such a significant industry in Orkney’s history! It would be fantastic to see the restoration project succeed in the Bay of Firth, and we’re really looking forward to assisting in any way we can to help make that happen. Thanks again for everything.

Links

Vectis Expeditions www.vectisexpeditions.co.uk
Contact: info@vectisexpeditions.co.uk

Northbay Innovations : https://www.lobsterhatchery.co.uk/history/
Contacts: dennis@northbayinnovations.co.uk; richard@northbayinnovations.co.uk

Orkney BSAC https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=orkney%20sub%20aqua%20club
orkneysubaquaclub@gmail.com

British Sub Aqua Club Operation Oyster www.bsac.com/operationoyster