1. World Wildlife Magazine
  2. Winter 2024

How oysters help the planet—and how we can help them

Oyster reef near a marina

Beloved for their slippery texture and salty flavor, oysters are a staple of modern cuisine. But these briny bivalves are more than a culinary treat; they provide significant environmental benefits and are one of the most sustainable farmed seafoods. As oyster populations disappear, habitat protection and reef restoration efforts have become more important than ever.

Icons showing 9 cows to 1 oyster

IF AMERICANS REPLACED 10% OF THEIR BEEF CONSUMPTION WITH OYSTERS, the greenhouse gas emissions savings would be equivalent to keeping approximately 11 million cars off the road, according to a study by Sea Grant researchers.

To grow their shells, oysters pull carbon ions from seawater, effectively sequestering C02 absorbed by the ocean from the atmosphere in their shell structures.

 

Oysters prepared on a plate at a restaurant

Packed with protein, zinc, B12, omega-3 fatty acids, and other nutrients, oysters can support healthy diets. And since they don’t require resources like feed, freshwater, or fertilizer to grow, they have a much lower environmental impact than many other foods.

50GALLONS

As oysters eat, water pumps through their body, filtering out algae and nutrients—a process that improves water quality and clarity and prevents algal blooms. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day.

 

85%

of the world’s wild oyster reefs have disappeared because of pollution, disease, and overharvesting in the last century. Oyster reefs once lined the northeastern US coast, with as many as half the world’s oysters living in and around New York Harbor.

GO FORTH

In Scotland, WWF and partners are working to create a new oyster reef in the Firth of Forth. Thirty thousand European flat oysters will be reintroduced into the estuary as part of the Restoration Forth project, which seeks to restore oyster populations and local sea grasses. Similar WWF projects are underway in Mexico and the Netherlands.

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World Wildlife magazine provides an inspiring, in-depth look at the connections between animals, people and our planet. Published quarterly by WWF, the magazine helps make you a part of our efforts to solve some of the most pressing issues facing the natural world.

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