Policy Brief: The Pacific oyster – a new Nordic food resource and a basis for tourism

The Pacific oyster has established populations in Scandinavian coastal waters. The species is considered alien and invasive and dense populations may cause changes in benthic habitats. It is, however, one of the world’s most important aquaculture species, and there is a growing interest in using the Scandinavian populations as a new marine resource.To release the commercial potential, there is urgent need for a better understanding of the oyster’s effect on the ecosystem and a clarification of legal matters, as well as establishment of management practices for harvesting and marketing these oysters.This Policy brief gives a summary of the status for the Pacific oyster in Scandinavia and presents recommendations for the future work and management of Pacific oysters in the Nordic countries.