About this Event
About this event
About this event
We are delighted to invite you to join us in preparation of the first batch of native oysters to be reintroduced to the Firth of Forth as part of the Restoration Forth project. The oysters processed will be the first live native oysters in the Firth of Forth in 100 years!
The oysters will have previously been collected by the team from Little Loch Broom near Ullapool, and have undergone the first stages of the biosecurity process. We are inviting you to get involved in the final stages of the biosecurity process. By getting involved you will gain practical training in the processes of biosecurity necessary for the movement of native oysters into a restoration site.
This event is suitable for over 18’s only and not recommended for anyone with a shellfish allergy or repetitive strain injury- please see the important information at the end and get in touch if you have any questions.
Where
Please meet us at Heriot Watt University Edinburgh (Car Park A) at 2pm.
About biosecurity
When moving a species between two geographically distinct environments, we have to prevent the spread of invasive non-native species and disease, this is referred to as biosecurity. As part of the Restoration Forth project we are aiming to reintroduce native oysters into the Firth of Forth, to do this we will need to move adult oysters from our donor site, at Little Loch Broom, to the Firth of Forth. To reduce the risk of transferring any invasive species or disease from these locations we implement a rigorous biosecurity protocol before reintroducing oysters.
During this training you will gain practical hands-on experience in implementing the biosecurity protocols. The biosecurity protocol includes the screening and removal of any attached biota (plants and animals) which pose a contamination risk both at the collection site and at Heriot Watt University campus. Once checked and cleaned the oysters undergo surface sterilisation before being sorted and counted then placed into clean aquarium tanks where they remain for a minimum of five days before they can be released into the Firth of Forth.
About this event
Please let us know how you plan to travel to the event so we can give relevant directions and meeting locations as per your mode of transport.
Meet for 2pm at Heriot-Watt University campus, car park A. We will start the afternoon with a classroom training session on biosecurity where we will discuss the procedures in biosecurity, it’s importance in restoration projects and give a health and safety induction, we will then have a tour of our oyster facilities after which we will provide you with the relevant PPE and equipment. This will be followed by practical biosecurity training where we will finish off processing the oysters through our biosecurity procedures.
Coffee and tea will be provided for breaktime. On campus there are cafeteria and shop facilities if attendees wish to buy any other refreshments.
Important information
We will be working outside during the practical session so please wear clothes which you are comfortable and warm in, jumpers, hats, gloves, scarfs etc. and with the possibility of rain during the Scottish Autumn, please also bring waterproofs.
Personal protective equipment will be provided such as aprons and work gloves, but please wear something comfortable which you don’t mind getting dirty.
The process of removing attached animals from the oysters and cleaning them can involve repetitive movement and the possibility of working in unfavourable weather conditions so please be aware of this when signing up. As the event will be physical, we will be sending out paperwork before hand to capture any medical details we need to know about you. We would not advise taking part in this activity if you have a shellfish allergy or a severe repetitive strain injury.
If you have any questions about this or want to discuss accessibility arrangements please don’t hesitate to contact us at the email address below.
For any questions or discussion, please contact:
Caitlin Godfrey, [email protected]
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh Campus, Heriot-Watt University Campus, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00