At Oyster Heaven, we are on a mission to restore ocean health by building large-scale, resilient oyster reefs. With over 4 million oysters per reef, our projects ignite entire ecosystems. This level of restoration requires significant resources, making it challenging for individuals to contribute directly. Yet, people kept asking how they could get involved.
That’s why we launched the “Adopt a Mother Reef” initiative, an opportunity for individuals to support and expand our restoration efforts by adopting a Mother Reef.
Today, we’re shining the spotlight on one of our first contributors, Stefaan Vandiest, who became a Mother Reef Steward and is helping restore 750 oysters.
Curious about what inspired him to take part? Dive into his story below.
My name is Stefaan Vandist. I specialise in storytelling, helping organisations, big and small, find their narrative. Over the years, I’ve worked with companies with a positive impact like Vito, Ecover, Arcadis and Blue Cluster to shape their stories and bring clarity to their missions.
My journey started in the early 2000s in advertising, working for one of Belgium’s most creative and award-winning agencies. After five or six years, I realised my heart was drawn more to sustainability challenges rather than promoting banks, resorts, or cereal brands. So, I branched out on my own, helping organisations craft their narratives with purpose.
While people sometimes seek my expertise for different aspects of communication, my core passion remains storytelling – helping them articulate what truly matters.
Since childhood, I have loved aquatic life. While other kids played football in the summer, I was more fascinated by small ponds and pools. I kept aquariums, mesmerised by how tiny ecosystems maintain their delicate balance. You learn so much from an aquarium, and I think it’s the ultimate tool to teach children that nature always seeks balance.
Balance is fundamental, almost spiritual. In school, we’re taught to compete, to be the best, to build our identities. But in nature, there’s no ownership. There’s competition, but it leads to balance. Through an aquarium, you can teach about the nitrogen cycle, biochemistry, and the interconnectedness of life. I want to pass this understanding on to my two kids, who are 1 and 14 years old.
In 2023, I spent two months in Indonesia working on coral reef restoration. The idea of physically restoring one of the most colourful ecosystems in the world was incredibly fulfilling. It made me wonder how we could engage tourists in restoring rather than depleting ecosystems. There’s so much we can learn from nature: patterns, systems, and laws that can be applied to society.
Then, I met the Oyster Heaven team. You were doing exactly what fascinated me. The concept was the same: recreating nature as a force for good, tackling current challenges like excess nitrogen in the water, and creating new breeding grounds for aquatic life. That captivated me. I initially wanted to become an ambassador, help you spread the word, support you in some way.
When the Adopt a Mother Reef programme launched, it was the perfect fit.
I love the energy of George Birch (Oyster Heaven’s founder). His passion and dedication to this mission are inspiring.
I also admire the level of ambition at Oyster Heaven. Many organisations are led by scientists who are morally and ethically sound but often operate on a small scale. What’s unique about Oyster Heaven is the approach: it’s pragmatic and driven by impact. Teaming up with large companies allows for the creation of large-scale reefs.
It reminds me of Malcolm X during the civil rights movement in the ’60s. He didn’t just ask what was morally correct; he focused on achieving his goal, even if it required unconventional means. There’s a certain irony and paradox in that mindset, but it’s powerful.
It’s about stepping outside of conventional thinking to drive real change.
Oyster Heaven embraces radical – not extreme -thinking. We need more of that! Hybrid funding models, creative partnerships… this isn’t just about oysters; it’s about systemic change.
Most nature conservation organisations focus on a single charismatic species for marketing purposes, using a cute mascot like a polar bear, whale or tiger to encourage support. But ecosystems are far more complex than the level of cuteness of a species. Often, it’s the less glamorous species that hold everything together.
At Oyster Heaven, you glorify oysters as nature’s cleanup crew. Many people have a simplistic, almost ‘Disneyfied’ view of nature – flamingos, polar bears, and other photogenic animals.
Oyster Heaven contributes to a more mature, honest, and intelligent awareness of ecosystems. It’s not about romanticising nature; it’s about understanding and restoring it. So I wish everyone would be aware of how ecosystems really work.
Today, people associate the beach with white sand and safe waters for children to play in. But if we look at history, our coastlines were once teeming with life. Oyster reefs stretching for miles, rich ecosystems thriving just below the surface.
I hope we can restore these ecosystems on a large scale. More importantly, I hope we develop ways for people to truly experience what our oceans once were, snorkelling paradises in the North Sea, vibrant marine life returning to places where it had disappeared.
In short, I want to see us not only restore nature, but also create nature from scratch and making it accessible for generations to come.
We are deeply grateful to Stefaan and everyone who has adopted a Mother Reef for supporting our mission and helping to raise awareness about the importance of rewilding our oceans.
Want to be part of this movement or give the gift of ocean restoration? Adopt a Mother Reef today!
Make a measurable difference for the ocean today.
You can now adopt a Mother Reef and help restore 100 oysters!
