Our North Kent Coastbuster team is now fully active, having undertaken two sessions already.
The purpose of the team is to help tackle the problem we have with the invasive non-native Pacific oyster on Kent's shores. These oysters are out-competing other native species. They grow faster and larger than many of our native species and occupy the same habitat as our native blue mussels. In places where these oysters are left unchecked they can cover entire sites, such as parts of Epple Bay.
Willie McKnight, a long-time Thanet Coastal Warden and Shoresearcher, first came up with the idea to try to do something about the Pacific oysters. Since 2007 he has worked with a small team of volunteers, and the support of Natural England, round at Ramsgate to tackle the problem there. Over the years, his work has shown that it is possible to control the spread of these oysters. However, the problem round at Ramsgate has meant that his team hasn't been able to tackle sites on the North Kent coast. Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Funding, we now have a team for North Kent.
There will be a training workshop later this year for anyone interested in becoming a Coastbuster. You need to be fairly fit and able to get to parts of the North Kent coast by 8am weekdays.
The purpose of the team is to help tackle the problem we have with the invasive non-native Pacific oyster on Kent's shores. These oysters are out-competing other native species. They grow faster and larger than many of our native species and occupy the same habitat as our native blue mussels. In places where these oysters are left unchecked they can cover entire sites, such as parts of Epple Bay.
Willie McKnight, a long-time Thanet Coastal Warden and Shoresearcher, first came up with the idea to try to do something about the Pacific oysters. Since 2007 he has worked with a small team of volunteers, and the support of Natural England, round at Ramsgate to tackle the problem there. Over the years, his work has shown that it is possible to control the spread of these oysters. However, the problem round at Ramsgate has meant that his team hasn't been able to tackle sites on the North Kent coast. Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Funding, we now have a team for North Kent.There will be a training workshop later this year for anyone interested in becoming a Coastbuster. You need to be fairly fit and able to get to parts of the North Kent coast by 8am weekdays.
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