Our previous research has shown that installing oyster shells on artificial seawalls can substantially enhance marine biodiversity and key ecosystem functions, including biofiltration. Building on this evidence, we launched the “Oysters Save Our Seas” project (Oyster SOS) in Hong Kong in partnership with the Hong Kong Marine Ecological Association. In Oyster SOS, we engage teachers and students from local schools through seminars, hands-on workshops, and structured experiments. Participants learn oyster biology and ecology, and the ecological benefits of deploying oyster shells as a form of eco-engineering. They also prepare oyster-shell collars, deploy them along artificial seawalls, and monitor the development of associated biological communities over time. This process helps students discover marine species that are new to them and gain firsthand insight into how oyster-based substrates can support biodiversity restoration. To date, Oyster SOS has engaged over 2,000 students and deployed more than 1,000 oyster-shell collars. In this talk, I will share our project journey and discuss strategies for engaging donors and corporate partners to support scalable conservation education. We hope Oyster SOS can be extended to other parts of the world, turning urban coastal cities into biodiversity learning hubs that cultivate a new generation of nature lovers for ocean sustainability.
 

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