Mission, Role & Strategy
Network Role
The key role that NORA plays in fulfilling its mission is enhancing international cooperation and knowledge sharing, between all parties involved in native oyster restoration. Therefore, NORA aims to closely cooperate with all relevant societal sectors:
- communities
- science
- regulators
- nature conservation organizations
- enterprise (such as commercial oyster growing, offshore companies and consultancy/engineering bureaus)
Because of the strong mutual relevance of the commercial oyster growing and oyster reef restoration, NORA emphasizes the importance of cooperation with this sector.
The current NORA network, as enlisted at the NORA secretariat, consists of ca. 500 persons from a variety of European countries.
Network support and products
NORA maintains and strengthens the native oyster reef restoration network by regular support activities, such as:
- This website
- Monthly newsletters and regular news blogs
- Social media communication
- Public outreach support
- Supporting project development and regional initiatives
- Organization of bi-annual general conferences and other meetings
- Initiating and coordinating working groups on relevant issues
Since its founding, NORA has organized 5 general conferences:
- 2017: Berlin (ca. 70 participants)
- 2019: Edinburgh (ca. 150 participants)
- 2020: Online (ca. 200 participants)
- 2021: Online (ca. 250 participants)
- 2023: Middelburg (ca. 180 participants)
- 2025: Cartagena (ca. 200 participants)
In cooperation with the Native Oyster Network for UK and Ireland, NORA has also produced and/or coordinated the production of a wide variety of handbooks, guidelines and scientific articles in which the knowledge base of native oyster reef restoration is developed and described. Besides, NORA maintains an extensive restoration projects and experts database, which can be consulted by anyone interested in reef restoration practice.