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0The 'superhero' oyster species helping to clean water
There were oyster reefs in Belfast Lough until the early 20th century, when overfishing and pollution all but destroyed them.
Over the last four years, oyster nurseries have been set up on the coasts of counties Antrim and Down. Now conservationists have placed 2,000 adult European oysters and more than 30,000 juveniles on the seabed of the lough.
Scientists hope the shellfish will form a natural reef and improve the water quality because they remove pollutants.
Northern Ireland's devolved government is supporting the project. It's led by the charity Ulster Wildlife, which has said the latest stage is a huge step forward in helping to restore a small but mighty ocean superhero.
词汇表
oyster reefs [ˈɔɪstə(r) riːfs] 牡蛎礁（是由大量牡蛎聚集形成的生物礁结构，能净化水质、提供栖息地，稳固海岸线等）
lough [lɒk] n. （爱尔兰）湖，海湾
overfishing [ˌəʊvəˈfɪʃɪŋ] n. 过度捕捞
nursery [ˈnɜːsəri] n. 繁殖场，苗圃
conservationist [ˌkɒnsəˈveɪʃənɪst] n. 自然保护主义者，环保主义者
juvenile [ˈdʒuːvənaɪl] n. 幼体，幼年动物
seabed [ˈsiːbed] n. 海底，海床
shellfish [ˈʃelfɪʃ] n. 贝类，甲壳类水生动物
pollutant [pəˈluːtənt] n. 污染物
devolved government [dɪˈvɒlvd] 自治政府，分权政府，权力下放政府
mighty [ˈmaɪti] adj. 强大的，强有力的，巨大的
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