– There are more Pacific oysters than before. The amount is extreme, says Fredrik Myhre, head of the ocean team at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), in Dagbladet.
Myhre explains that rising sea temperatures are part of the reason why unwanted “guests” have become a problem in this country. Now the problem is more serious than ever.
– There have never been so many cupped oysters as now, said Myhre.
SOUNDS THE ALARM: Fredrik Myhre, head of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) oceans team, says the Pacific oyster has become a bigger problem than before.
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Myhre says the species was released into French waters in the 1960s, and no one at the time thought of the consequences. The oyster lives naturally in the northern Pacific Ocean, from Japan to the Bering Strait, according to Great Norwegian Encyclopedia.
– First and foremost, it was human stupidity that caused the oyster to spread, explains the team leader at sea.
Response to criticism
many tons
Overcoming the problem proved difficult. A single Pacific oyster can release up to 200 million eggs into the sea, according to Myhre.
A proven measure is the harvesting of oysters. This is done on a voluntary basis to prevent the cupped oyster from taking over the beaches.
– So far this year, we have collected about ten tons of cupped oysters. When the volunteering period is over, I think that number has doubled, says Kristian Ingdal, project manager for Østersdugnaden in Vestfold and the county municipality of Telemark.
TONNEVIS: Kristian Ingdal, project manager for Østersdugnaden in Vestfold and Telemark County Council, says they are working hard to remove the Pacific oyster from the county. Photo: Private
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The county has been hit hard by the Pacific oyster, they report own websites. They have been carrying out Østersdugnaden in recent years in hopes of reducing the population, but according to Ingdal they will never be able to get rid of the intruder.
– Volunteer work can be compared to lawn mowing, garbage dumping and gardening. You have to maintain it for a longer period, he says.
The heaviest thing he’s done
Beaches in ruins
Hilde Haugen is enthusiastically involved in the fight against the Pacific oyster. She can sign that it’s a big deal.
– Some beaches are almost completely destroyed, it is almost impossible to use them, she says.
IMPORTANT: Hilde Haugen wants more people to help clean up the beaches and beach area of Pacific oysters. Photo: Private
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Haugen thinks it’s important to acknowledge the work being done to remove the Pacific oyster, even though she sometimes thinks the work is wasted because of the huge quantities.
– I thought about it, but at the same time it would have been even worse if we hadn’t done anything, she said.
