Oyster Restoration in West Loch Tarbert, Argyll.

Action West Loch is a community organisation set up to restore the rich biodiversity in West Loch Tarbert and the surrounding Atlantic Rain Forest. You can read more about our work here: https://www.actionwestloch.co.uk

One of our projects is monitoring the oyster population.

The loch was once home to a substantial oyster fishery, but that has come to an end as the oysters are infected with the bonamia parasite and it is now illegal to remove oysters. As a result of bonamia, the oysters are small and short-lived, but they are surviving and we are monitoring the population in a joint project with the Roslin Institute.

The survey work is being carried out by our volunteer divers, who use a RIB

(Rigid Inflatable Boat) kindly provided by a supporter. Unfortunately, the motor for the RIB is old and no longer reliable, and is also a lot more polluting than modern 4 stroke motors. We need to raise £5,000 to replace it with a second hand replacement, or £10,000 for a new one.