The last week of August was spent concentrating on our native oyster project – a site viability test for a potential oyster nursery in Grimsby Docks, from which local restoration projects could source their oysters in the future. After coming up with a monitoring plan for the two-year project, and drafting an unpalatable number of risk assessments, we designed an 'oyster hoister' – a type of vertical cage in which oysters sit stacked on top of each other, separated by plastic shelves that boast outer teeth, protecting the oysters from most predators. These cages will be suspended from the docks, at least one metre below the waves at low tide to protect the oysters from changing salinity levels due to rain in that first layer of water.

Once the cages are manufactured, we will be going to Stranraer in Scotland to source 180 native oysters from beautiful Loch Ryan – and saving them from their shalloty and vinegary fate!

In early September, we were graciously invited by Suffolk Wildlife Trust to join their annual juvenile fish survey, in partnership with the Inshore Fisheries Management consultancy and the River Deben Association. 

Marine conservation officer Lauren joined us on the trip, and we spent the next two days learning seine-netting and fyke-netting skills, as well as perfecting the art of catching slippery little fish to measure. The estuary rendered many a sand smelt and bass, peppered with some silvery herring, while the saltmarsh gave us hundreds – and I mean hundreds – of goby and larger and prouder bass, never missing an opportunity to posture with their prickly fins.

The trip was thoroughly enjoyable – if wet, ahem – and inspiring. Not least thanks to the female scientists leading the endeavour – true role-models.

The highlight of our month was going out onto The Wash for a day trip on the Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (EIFCA) boat. As guests of the Science Team, we participated in mussel and cockle sampling, wading out onto the treacherous mudflats and regularly toppling over as my feet slipped out of the too-big waders (at 4’11” I am particularly short, and precious little professional equipment ever fits me), despite the three pairs of thick socks I was wearing. Lesson learnt; get waders that fit. If you can.

Despite the slight ridicule, it was a wonderful day spent scraping barnacles off mussels, raking sand for cockles, and bouncing off the waves on the RHIB. All under a glorious sun. 

A lesson in atypical mortality rate in cockles taught us two things:

1. Eat cockles from The Wash at your own risk.
2. Cancer in cockles is transmittable. Although we are still left wondering why...

Overall we learnt valuable skills such as ageing cockles, and got an insight into the IFCA’s role. Not to mention the excitement of watching a 'man overboard' drill.

Now, as the trip to Cumbria for our midpoint review looms, heads are down, vocal cords warming and PowerPoints at the ready for our presentations... Wish us luck!

Mona