The effects of Mid-Holocene foragers on the European oyster in Denmark

Abstract

This study examines the long-term influence of human harvesting throughout Denmark. By analyzing growth rate changes, we better quantify the pivotal role of harvesting pressure in prehistoric marine ecosystems. Modern European baselines refer to depleted oyster populations as a result of overharvesting during the 19th and 20th centuries. Dating from ~7,660 y ago, this study’s data predate industrial large-scale oyster fishing and demonstrate that long-term sustainable oyster fishing was practiced at almost all of the sampled archaeological sites, providing a unique and important reference for modern conservation efforts with implications for future aquaculture practices and governance. Our findings further underscore the importance of preserving these keystone species to maintain the health and balance of marine habitats.