Native Oysters

What is it:

The native oyster is typically found attached to rocks or other shells on muddy substratum in estuaries and other coastal habitats. These are found along the west coast, in the Hebrides and Shetland. Specimens have been recently discovered in the Firth of Forth where there was once a highly productive fishery before disappearing in the 1950s.

Links to Scotland's Marine Atlas:

Chapter 4: Intertidal Sediments

Data originators:

Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)

Marine Life Information Network (MARLIN)

NatureScot

This information page is part of the theme:

Intertidal Sediments

Native oysters © SNH

More Information:

Native oyster beds were once widespread. Dense beds of oysters once formed reefs that stabilised the underlying sediments and provided a hard substrate for a range of other animals such as sea squirts, sponges, sea slugs and small seaweeds. They are now considered to be nationally rare with only scattered occurrences on the west coast, most notably lochs Ryan, Sween and Scridain.

This page was last modified on :

Monday, July 23, 2018 - 08:31

Map Type	Click title for metadata and licence information	Date of data	View Map
Map Layers (NMPi)	Native oysters		Access this map on NMPi

Type	Title	External link
Reports	SNH Commissioned Report 406: Descriptions of Scottish Priority Marine Features (PMFs)	www.nature.scot
Web link	SNH - Native Oysters	www.nature.scot