Little Loch Broom (An Loch Beag), Wester Ross, Scotland

The Native Oyster and Shellfish Company Ltd is a Scottish Oyster producer born out of the Glenmorangie DEEP project (Native Oyster Restoration). As a result, the company has placed the Native European Flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) at the heart of our business, and we grow these for both the table market and a range of restoration projects, who are fighting hard to save this animal from extinction.

Today we are delighted to announce that our oyster farm has become a registered supporter of the Wester Ross UNESCO Biosphere.

An UNESCO Biosphere reserve is defined as a learning place for sustainable development, and they are designated by UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation). Ultimately, they are a way to provide local solutions to global challenges and provide the opportunity for people to learn to live in harmony with the environment.

As one of the only two UNESCO Biospheres in Scotland, Wester Ross has a very unique natural heritage, rich wildlife, pristine waters surrounded by rugged mountains, remote glens and long, steep sided straths. The Biosphere covers 5,200 square kilometres of Wester Ross and is a place where people live and actively learn about their surroundings to inspire a legacy rich in both natural and cultural heritage.

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As part of our ethos, we are continuously exploring innovative culture methods that will help improve the ways that the Native European Flat oysters are grown, with a long-term view of helping to restore wild natural populations across Scotland and Europe.

By becoming part of the Wester Ross UNESCO biosphere we hope to accelerate our activities, aiding in the fight to save the Native oyster, while also creating much needed local employment opportunities.

We are extremely excited to embark on this journey as part of the Wester Ross UNESCO Biosphere and we cannot wait to see what this milestone brings for the future of our Native oysters.

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