Native Oyster Project (monitoring and deployment) delivery contract, Welsh Marine Treasures, Natur a

Description

This invitation to tender covers a contract to aid native oyster restoration within the Milford Haven waterway. This work will draw upon that delivered in the development phase of NaB! ! (Annex 1. Reports: Natur am Byth! Native Oyster Project: Initial Overview, June 2022 (redacted version) and Natur am Byth! Native Oyster Project: Final Report, February 2023) and also on the work carried out by the Wales Native Oyster Restoration Project (Phase 1 & 2) and other work such as the Wild Oyster Project and the Native Oyster Restoration Handbook. As part of the native oyster restoration work, mature and juvenile oysters will be deployed subtidally to boost local populations. It is anticipated that some mature oysters will be deployed in 2024 and 2025, with further deployment of juvenile oysters in 2025 and 2026. The number of oysters will be determined through a separate contract but it is estimated that the total number will likely be around 200,000 (of which around a quarter will likely be mature). Deployment practicalities will be aided by the Pembrokeshire Regional Coordinator and oyster provider(s). Transportation of oysters to the Milford Haven Waterway will be covered by the ‘Purchase of broodstock’ contract. Deployment on site will require coordination with the oyster supplier(s) and costs should be included within this tender. Deployment to restoration sites will be the responsibility of the tenderer in order to best coordinate with a monitoring schedule. The sites for deployment will be informed by (Reference final report Annex 1.) and the monitoring data as the project progresses. It is anticipated that deployment will occur in no more than 2 of the restoration study sites from the development phase. Deployed oysters and also the existing population need to be monitored throughout the project period to provide evidence to aid understanding of survivability of introduced oysters, monitor potential new recruitment and also extend understanding of the issues impacting native oyster populations in the study area (the Milford Haven Waterway). This tender is not expected to cover monitoring of human activity, engagement, or the caged oysters.