Perle Towards the sustainable reintroduction of the flat oyster

PERLE emerged from closer collaboration between professionals and scientists in the shellfish-farming sector. The project was designed to enhance knowledge of the flat oyster in Brittany and Pays de la Loire, with a view to examining the feasibility of re-seeding valuable spawning adults in Brest Bay, where shellfish farmers have their flat-oyster larvae catchment area.

As a result of the PERLE project, significant progress has been achieved in studying the feasibility of restoring natural beds of flat oysters. Ecological research has pinpointed the substrates and techniques that favour restoration. Repopulation strategies vary depending on the sites targeted. The particular efforts made in Brest Bay will make it possible to determine a general methodology which can be used as the basis for localised action and adapted to the specific characteristics of each site.

Work will need to continue on the selection process for producing the family of genes of interest for operational reconstitution of the beds, involving, in particular, the acquisition of a controlled-environment production tool that is adapted as required. Knowledge also needs to be improved of the deposits on the two catchment sites exploited by flat-oyster producers.

• 5 jobs created
• 5 scientific publications
• 6 papers and presentations at scientific symposiums