Natur am Byth: Native Oyster Project Llŷn & Ynys Môn and Pembrokeshire

Tender description

‘Natur Am Byth’ is a partnership between 9 environmental NGOs and NRW to develop what will be the largest nature conservation and engagement project in Wales to save our most threatened species. This will be the first time that such a large range of environmental NGOs and public sector organisations in Wales have collaborated on a species conservation project. We have secured stage one (development phase funding) through the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project will deliver for species facing the greatest threat of extinction and of particular importance to Wales through a programme of conservation management and outreach activity at both landscape and seascape scale. This is an invitation to tender (ITT) for the contract for the Native Oyster Project: Llŷn & Ynys Môn and Pembrokeshire during the development phase of the Natur am Byth project. MCS, who are leading on Marine Treasures, the marine component of the Natur am Byth project, are seeking to let a contract for the Native Oyster Project, working within the two focal marine areas for Natur am Byth, Llŷn & Ynys Môn and Pembrokeshire. MCS will manage this contract with additional support provided by the Natur am Byth (NaB) project management staff. It is anticipated that, following successful delivery of the development phase, funding will be secured for the delivery phase. MCS will let additional contracts for the delivery of the work planned and initiated during the development phase. Further work on native oyster restoration or recovery will be part of the potential delivery stage of the project Marine Treasures covers the following marine species and themes, • Native oyster (Ostrea edulis) – Pembrokeshire focussed, although links to Llŷn & Ynys Môn region • Pink sea fan (Eunicella verrucosa) – Pembrokeshire only • Seagrass (Zostera spp.)– covers both regions • Crawfish (Palinurus elephas) – covers both regions • Water quality theme – covers both regions MCS, are seeking to let separate contracts for regional coordinators of the two marine project areas: Pembrokeshire and Llŷn & Ynys Môn. Each regional coordinator will supervise the species/theme-specific contracts determined for each area. The Native Oyster contractor will work closely with the regional coordinators, especially the coordinator for Pembrokeshire, who will be leading on this area of work. The project includes workpacakgaes as follows: • Review restoration and monitoring methods • Investigation of potential further suitable sites and restoration techniques • Investigate Survey techniques • Investigate potential sources of cultch material • Investigate viable sources of Oyster seed, juveniles and or broodstock for purchase in the delivery phase • Project meeting attendance