During the last nine months, award-winning photographer Tessa Bunney and place-writer Saira Niazi embarked on an extraordinary journey to find out about kelp, seagrass and native oysters, and the work being done by Stronger Shores to reintroduce them into the waters they once called home.

Commissioned as part of Beach of Dreams, a UK-wide coastal arts festival exploring the unique heritage, cultures, and futures of our coastlines in the face of the climate emergency, the pair were invited to produce work inspired by their explorations, encounters and learnings. This is an account of the artistic process.

By Saira Niazi

We watch as BBC Countryfile presenter Joe Crowley interviews the skipper, John Mills, onboard Vital Spark, a 1970s Clyde-built trawler, as he and his son Jordan work quickly to pick out large oysters dredged from the bed. A spat-out starfish dawdles among other strange and wondrous sea creatures. The morning sun is rising over the soft, glistening waters of Loch Ryan. Moments later, as the Countryfile film crew change positions, we skirt off to the wheelhouse in an attempt to stay out of the way. What led us here? – I wonder…

Six months earlier, on a sleepy overcast Sunday afternoon, Tessa and I sat outside Minchella & Co off the high street in South Shields eating mango ice-cream sundaes. As we ate, we pondered over how we were going to approach our joint art commission exploring coastal nature-based solutions to climate change. We shared our half-formed imaginings and intrusive thoughts. Where should we go? Who should we meet? How will we work together? A mixture of excitement and trepidation washed over me as we ideated out loud. We were on our first joint visit to the North East. I’d travelled up from Birmingham, and Tessa had journeyed from North Yorkshire.

Over the last few years, Tessa had been working on “Save our Sea” and “North Sea Stories,” photography projects documenting fishermen in Teesside and the Yorkshire coast. Meanwhile I’d been gathering stories of people along the Sussex shoreline with a strong affinity to the chalk downs: a folk singer, an organic farmer, a sea swimmer. Tessa and I are both explorers and collectors of stories, and connectors of people and places.

Before our ice-cream lunch, we spent the morning watching the Marina Park model yacht club races and talking to its members, mostly elders who had lived in the North East all their lives. The impressive, characterful boats zipped up and down the emerald waters as individuals shared with us the history of the yacht club, stories of the sea and memories from times gone by. They offered us a sneak peek into the club, showed us the lockers where they stored their yachts, mechanical tools and various newspaper cuttings and certificates.

Could we engage the members of the club in what lies beneath the water’s surface, beyond the lake, and the shore that stretches behind it? Could we weave their space and stories into our project? Was there a connection between the coastal creatures and the club, the former, protected species and the latter, at risk of extinction?

“The beginning of any creative journey starts with a period of clumsiness, of grappling and searching”

The beginning of any creative journey starts with a period of clumsiness, of grappling and searching. It requires you to show up, to be patient and to have hope. There is the hope that ideas will surface, and work will be shaped – the precise words, the imagined image – and that they will come together in a way that is coherent, illuminating… moving. That you will find the right people and visit the right places. There is the hope that somehow, you’ll pry apart two shells, stuck together, and that gradually a world will be revealed to you, and that in turn, you’ll create something that will reveal it to others. You will render the unseen visible: alive.

Over the course of the day, and in the weeks and months that followed, we continued our journey and to make unexpected connections.

An Introduction to Stronger Shores

Commissioned as part of Beach of Dreams, a UK-wide coastal arts festival exploring the unique heritage, cultures, and futures of our coastlines in the face of the climate emergency, our creative assignment focused on nature-based solutions to rising sea levels. We partnered with Stronger Shores, a DEFRA funded project developing and testing new approaches to help the fight against flooding, coastal erosion and climate change.

A month after our self-guided visit to the North East, Tessa and I returned, alongside the team at Beach of Dreams for a week-long induction that consisted of meetings, wanderings, site visits and ideation. We met staff at Stronger Shores, Emily Ross, Blair Watson, and Karen Daglish, to learn more about the work being done and about the coastline, and coastal habitats.

“I knew nothing about the properties of kelp, the life cycle of an oyster or the numerous threats to seagrass meadows”

Sea glass, lighthouses, a labyrinth - having walked from Seaham to South Shields over a period of days one bleak winter years prior to undertaking the project, I’d discovered the wonders of the coastal stretches we were working in. I’d learnt about the lives of fishermen - about miners and mystics and saints. But I knew nothing of what lie beyond the waters’ edge. I knew nothing about the properties of kelp, the life cycle of an oyster or the numerous threats to seagrass meadows.

During our week-long trip, we visited various spots, Tessa with her camera in hand and me with my small log book. We listened to the kittiwakes at Marsden Rocks and looked out at the invisible kelp forests from the Wherry. We observed an oyster monitoring session at Roker Marina delivered by Joe Harper from Wild Oysters Project. We ate them too, at the Fish Shack in Amble, Northumberland and afterwards we went on a sunset wander at Druridge Bay beach – remote and enchanted.

We visited the National Centre for the Written Word and South Shields Museum & Art Gallery. We visited Reelsport Fishing Tackle where Tessa enquired about tide times. I read and researched and dived into numerous oceanic crevices as I learnt about kelp, seagrass, and oysters. At times, I felt out of my depth. Notes were made.

KELP! Forests

KELP FORESTS are MAGICAL and BEAUTIFUL; kelp are slippery ribbons. olive and rubbery, crowds of them wave hello. Or are they waving for help??!! KELP!!

THREATS: rising sea temperatures: Warmer waters can stress kelp, (oh no!) leading to reduced growth and even death, especially during marine heatwaves. Warmer waters can also reduce nutrient availability, which kelp needs to thrive. Frequent and intense storms can physically damage kelp forests. Removing predators like sea otters and large fish can lead to an increase in sea urchins, which graze on kelp and can destroy entire forests. Overfishing of Kelp-Dependent Species is another threat. Pollution: coastal development can lead to increased sedimentation and pollution, which can smother kelp and reduce water quality. Sewage, industrial discharge, and agricultural runoff can pollute kelp forests, impacting their health and survival.  Large populations of sea urchins can consume kelp at a rate that prevents kelp forests from forming or recovering. (Fish and crustaceans can also overgraze kelp!!)

BENEFITS: carbon sinks- they absorb and store vast amounts of carbon dioxide. sucks up excess nutrients and carbon dioxide from the water, (this reduces the effects of ocean acidification, acid-if-ic-ation, a consequence of INCREASED! carbon dioxide levels in the ocean). Kelp forests are NATURAL BUFFERS against WAVES and EROSION, they protect coastal areas from the impacts of storms and rising sea levels. Supports biodiversity. KELP CAN BE HARVESTED SUSTAINABLY for food, fertiliser, and dye. Kelp forests are a natural solution for mitigating climate change! Absorb excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from water, which helps reduce pollution.

My journey, like Tessa’s, began by learning – and progressed, by asking questions.

How can we share nature-based solutions in a way that will inspire and connect with local people from all backgrounds? How can we draw light on the creatures that inhabit our seas and are helping to nurse them back to health?

We learnt that Stronger Shores is supporting “hidden habitats below the waves” – seagrass meadows, kelp forests and oyster reefs.” That the organisation is working with various partners including the Wild Oysters Project, North Sea Wildlife Trusts, Newcastle University and Tees River Trust to deliver projects and activities and undertake research. We learnt that the project which covers the North Sea coastline from Lindisfarne in Northumberland to Skinningrove in Redcar and Cleveland, is varied, practical, imaginative and expansive and offers local people opportunities to learn more and to get involved.

Stronger Shores works with partners to deliver educational workshops at schools, organise coastal walks, lead oyster monitoring sessions, create indoor seagrass nurseries, run workshops on making fish hotels. FISH HOTELS. Where sea creatures can live. COOL! The work combines wonder and whimsy with science, creativity with climate action. It also captures the spirit of Beach of Dreams. Stronger Shores are making WAVES.

Over the course of the week, I continued to learn and to be amazed by my learnings.

Seagr as ssss S sS meadows

Seagrasses are the only flowering plants which grow in marine environments!! They often grow in large groups giving the appearance of terrestrial grassland – an underwater meadow.

In the UK, there is eelgrass (Zostera marina) and dwarf eelgrass (Zostera noltei) and there are two types of tasselweeds - Ruppia maritima and Ruppia cirrhosa. What wondrous names for a wondrous species. OTHERWORLDLY.

BENEFITS: diverse habitats, provide shelter and food for a wide variety of marine species, fish rely on seagrass meadows as nursery grounds… They improve water quality by removing pollutants and excess nutrients that can lead to harmful algal blooms. (Ask the sea for answers). SEAAAA GRASS. SEE GRASS. sea grasp. Sea gasp! C GRASS.

Seagrass meadows protect coastlines from erosion by stabilizing sediments and absorbing wave energy, captures and stores carbon, produces oxygen, essential for marine life and the overall health of the ocean. An important part of the cultural heritage of coastal communities. Seagrass Meadows contribute to local economies through tourism, fishing, and other activities that depend on healthy marine ecosystems. Food: a source of protein, support fisheries.

THREATS: urban, industrial, and agricultural run-off, coastal development, (dreading) dredging, edging off. Unregulated fishing and boating activities, and climate change.

Sometime after our week-long visit, Tessa and I decided to focus mainly on oysters and oyster reefs.

“Native oysters, once commonly found in our seas, have declined by 95% owing to historical over-harvesting, habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, and diseases”

Native oysters, once commonly found in our seas, have declined by 95% owing to historical over-harvesting, habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, and diseases.

I talked to Joe Harper, a marine biologist and engagement officer at the Wild Oysters Project about his role, the work being done to reintroduce oysters back into the North Sea and to monitor their progress, as well as the challenges involved. The project, a national collaboration led by the Zoological Society of London, Blue Marine Foundation and British Marine, works with the marine industry and local communities and organisations to deliver restoration sites in England, Scotland and Wales.[i]

During our chat, Joe told me about his role in the Wild Humber Project, the UK's largest oyster restoration initiative, aiming to restore 500,000 oysters. He also told me more about the monthly volunteer oyster monitoring sessions that take place in Roker Marina, with core volunteers being local retirees and students. The oyster monitoring involves counting biodiversity and mortality rates.

“200 years ago, oyster reefs were very much the bedrock of the marine habitat in northwest Europe. They created the habitat that things live in, and we often think about the Northwest European waters as being a little bit sparse, and we're not really wrong to think that that we don't have the huge biodiversity they have in the coral reefs. One of the predominant reasons for that is our loss of oysters.”

Oysters are fascinating creatures that are crucial for water filtration and habitat creation, supporting marine biodiversity. Just one adult native oyster can filter over 100 litres of water per day – “that’s about a bathtub for one oyster!” Joe exclaims. “So if you imagine the problems that we've got with all the water companies, if we had a billion oysters out there, like we used to have, that wouldn't be an issue.”

Joe spoke of the need to engage local communities, especially those from working-class backgrounds and fishermen who rely on the sea for their livelihoods. Some of the challenges the project has faced include resistance from local fishermen, delays in acquiring marine licenses, and issues relating to the timing and conditions of the placement of oysters.

Over the following months, I read about oysters, I thought about them. I even had a Kafkaesque dream that I was stuck between two giant shells. When in New York, I learnt about the Billion Oyster Project, an ambitious initiative restoring oyster reefs to New York Harbour in collaboration with New York City communities. Notes were made.

OY-STER Reefs

Oysters are bivalves, their two shells are not identical. One shell is rounded, and the other is flat, like a lid. Oysters start life as males but can change sex regularly throughout their lives depending on the temperature of the water. (WOW!) They live on the seabed in shallow coastal waters and estuaries and will form dense beds where conditions are favourable. There shells are craggy and rough and dark, but inside they are creamy and iridescent.

BENEFITS: Oysters improve water quality. Oyster reefs create complex, three-dimensional habitats that provide shelter and food for a wide variety of marine species. Oyster reefs serve as a nursery ground for many fish species, protecting them from predators and providing abundant food sources. They act as natural breakwaters, reducing wave action and protecting coastlines from erosion. Oyster reefs can help to sequester carbon, contributing to climate change mitigation. The intricate structures of oyster reefs support a high diversity of marine life, contributing to a healthier and more resilient ecosystem. Cultural heritage. OYSTER FESTIVALS. Whitstable Oyster Festival. Stranraer Oyster Festival. Brighton Oysters.

THREATS: Habitat loss, over-harvesting, pollution, invasive species, disease, climate change.

Learning about a specific species, enables you to care about it and work to protect it. You cultivate a deeper respect for an environment and habitat and the creatures that call it home. It might propel you to educate others, to keep your beaches clean, to volunteer to take part in a litter pick and to reduce your carbon footprint by making conscious everyday choices. Choices that will contribute to the survival of crucial glorious seagrass meadows and kelp forests and oyster reefs.

To Do List

- Complete proposal with time frames and milestones.

- Locate and obtain samples of seagrass and kelp. Find out where we can get native oyster shells from!!

- Check train times and book advanced tickets to Newcastle. Check to see if the metro is running a full service on the Sunday.

- Find cheap accommodation (Where is the closest YHA hostel?)

- Research costs for workshop materials. Pick up scrap paper and risograph prints from Rabbits Road press.

- Follow up with Emily re: groups to work with in Sunderland, South Shields and Alnwick?!

- Book onto an oyster monitoring session!

Where do you get your oysters from?

Tessa had learnt from Joe that the native oysters from Loch Ryan, a Scottish sea loch in Dumfries and Galloway, were used for the Wild Oysters restoration project as well as oyster restoration projects across the UK and beyond. Shortly after, Tessa got in touch with Tristan Hugh-Jones of Loch Ryan Oyster Fishery Company Ltd.

The Loch Ryan Oyster Bed dates back to 1701 when King William III, granted a Royal Charter of the oyster bed to the Wallace family. Tristan had joined the family in 1996, with the aims to restore the wild native oyster fishery back to full production. Unlike most oyster beds, Loch Ryan oysters are disease-free, this is largely down to the careful way that the oysters in Loch Ryan have been sustainably managed over decades.

Tristan invited us to board Vital Spark, to see the oysters being dredged and to learn more about them and the work being done at the annual Stranraer Oyster Festival. It happened to be the same day the BBC Countryfile team was filming an episode on the festival. On the launch day of the festival, at dawn, we found ourselves at the west pier where we would meet Tristan, John, and Jordan as well as the crew from Countryfile. We would get as close as we could to thriving oyster reefs – a vision of what could be. Our morning on the trawler was odd, revealing and chaotic. A fleeting moment in which a group of disparate people hailing from different parts of the nation were connected by a loch, a vessel and by oysters, a strange, and revered species.

Stranraer Oyster Festival

Following our trip out to Loch Ryan, we made our way to the Stranraer Oyster Festival. The annual festival founded in 2017, celebrates the towns oysters in a three-day programme of events and activities including cookery demonstrations, live music, extreme pond dipping, walks, and the Scottish Oyster Shucking Championship.

“Later, I realise to my horror, that I forgot to press the record button on my phone after a brief interlude. I also forgot to take his number”

At the festival, we watched Tristan talk to a group of tiny humans in high-vis about oysters. We took part in activities and helped out where we could. Afterwards, as Tristan set up his oyster stall, I asked him lots of questions about his work. He answered them and gave me the name of books to read on oysters. At the end of our conversation, in the noisy hectic marquee full of tradespeople preparing for a day of oyster consumption, he tells me to call him tomorrow, when he’ll be driving up to the Ritz to deliver a box of oysters. “I’ll have lots of time to talk then.” Later, I realise to my horror, that I forgot to press the record button on my phone after a brief interlude. I also forgot to take his number.

Later on in the evening, Tessa and I attended a talk by Professor Bill Sanderson of Heriot Watt University on the benefits of Loch Ryan’s oyster beds. I made more notes. My brain, like an oyster, tried to filter excess information.

Habitats as Homes

Learning is often a catalyst – for good and bad – it can spur us into action, or it can leave us feeling resigned. Before taking on this project, I knew next to nothing about oyster reefs, seagrass meadows and kelp forests. Through learning, undertaking research, making visits and talking to experts, I’ve developed a newfound respect, affection and awe for the species and the habitats they form. To create, to draw attention to, to evoke an emotional response in a way that will enable others to understand, to appreciate, to care about and in turn to care for – is heartwork.

Some months ago, I was in Muir Woods in California, listening to a park ranger Jace Richards, a climate refugee whose Santa Cruz home was destroyed by wildfires, speak about the importance of being stewards of the land like the Native Americans. He shared information about giant redwoods, and how they help create and are instrumental in sustaining the ecosystem for all the organisms that live in the woods by soaking up water from the fog and irrigating it throughout the forest floor. Many species survive only in community and by playing their part to support and maintain their natural habitat.

“Many species survive only in community and by playing their part to support and maintain their natural habitat”

Oyster reefs do the same – and seagrass meadows and kelp forests. My work, much of which is connected to ideas surrounding journeying, place-making and community, at the start felt far-removed from this commission. I was nervous that I would be unable to understand let alone share with others the wonder of these creatures, the habitats they create and the value of these habitats on a planetary level. Through the undertaking of this project, I understand now, more fully and tangibly, that we are all connected. Maybe, we are one.

I wonder, and hope, that the oysters will settle, and find home in the North East waters– that they thrive once more. I hope the seagrass will wave hello. And the kelp will dance joyfully. Together they have the power to nurse our seas back to health, to create and sustain a healthy environment for themselves and their neighbours with whom they share their unique and wondrous underwater habitats. And for us – marine habitats protect coastal communities.

In fast-changing and challenging times, I hope we humans can also find ways to share places with our neighbours, to work together to create healthier and more joyful environments. To turn our cities, towns and villages into thriving communal homes.

Further Reading

https://stranraeroysterfestival.com/loch-ryan-oysters

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0024097/countryfile-stranraer-oyster-festival

https://strongershores.com/

https://wild-oysters.org/

Acknowledgements

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this piece. Thank you to John, Jordan and Tristan for inviting us onto Vital Spark. Thank you to Joe Harper from Wild Oysters Project. To Emily Ross and Blair Watson from Stronger Shores. To Ali Pretty and Rosemary Richards at Beach of Dreams for granting me this incredible opportunity to delve into the wondrous world of oysters, seagrass and kelp. Thank you to Tessa - it was a joy to work and explore together - and to learn from you.

Notes

What happens when the documentation of the process becomes the work itself? A collection of reflections, retellings and encounters, this piece seeks to depict the joys, challenges, and complexities involved in fulfilling an art commission on an unfamiliar topic and in a region less known to the artist.

[i] https://wild-oysters.org/about-us/)