Finding native oysters in the Belgian North Sea using eDNA

When initiating native oyster aquaculture, the use of local spat is essential. For native oyster reef restoration and oyster construction, connectivity Is necessary for safeguarding genetic diversity and thus robustness of the reef. Applying eDNA technology to historical and recent water samples taken in summer and winter (BNZ), will give important geographical information on the presence of native populations and spat distribution.