Chichester Harbour: a new oyster reef and a step forward for conservation
As owners of a significant part of Chichester Harbour, the Manor of Bosham’s stated vision is to preserve it for future generations. In that spirit, we wanted to share some news we hope you will find as exciting as we do.
This month the Manor of Bosham is making a 3.5 hectare site on its seabed in Chichester Channel available for the construction of an underwater oyster reef, which will be populated with up to one million native oysters. The project is proposed and will be managed by the Blue Marine Foundation — a leading marine conservation charity — and is being delivered in collaboration with the Harbour Conservancy. Blue Marine have previously completed a smaller version of this kind of reef in the Hamble River (video).
Native oysters were once abundant in these waters. As well as being an important part of the local ecosystem, they are remarkable natural filters — a single oyster can clean up to 200 litres of water a day. The reef should make a meaningful contribution to water quality across the wider harbour over time.
Work will unfold over the next five years, with construction beginning now. When leaving Bosham Channel and turning right into Chichester Channel, you will notice special navigation marks at the reef site — please see the map here. You can also learn more about the project here.