Offshore Loudspeaker with crackling sounds from an oyster reef

A coral reef produces a rich soundscape that free-floating coral larvae can detect. In fact, they are drawn to the sounds and settle near the source. It has recently been discovered that oyster larvae also respond to reef sounds. What does an oyster reef in the Netherlands sound like, and does the reef sound differ from other locations in the North Sea? And what does that mean for oyster reef restoration?

To answer these questions, we recorded the soundscape of an oyster reef in the Voordelta. Then we developed a prototype offshore loudspeaker system capable of replaying these natural reef sounds in North Sea conditions.

In this way, we tested whether we can mimick natural underwater soundscapes that can guide young oysters to find suitable settlement habitat. This innovative approach can help accelerate oyster reef restoration and, in turn, enhance biodiversity in the North Sea.

This project is carried out by Waardenburg Ecology, WaterProof, Van Oord, and Ecoshape, and funded by Natuurversterking Noordzee.