BIO

I am pursuing a degree in Biology to either continue in Vet school or continue working in conservation. I grew up hiking and spending my time outdoors and I have a large heart for preserving the beauty and animals around me. I spend my weekends on walks with my dog Finn or paddle boarding up local springs and bays.

Eastern Oyster restoration project success metrics and goals in the Florida Gulf Coast

Abstract

The Gulf of Mexico had been the oyster capital for years before the recent climate and man-made events led to population collapse. Over-harvesting is prevalent within Eastern oyster fisheries (Crassostrea virginica) and has reduced natural production to less than half of what it was historically. As a response, communities and state departments throughout the United States have taken the initiative to restore these oyster reefs. Multi-million dollar projects are conducted to restore these reefs but the effectiveness is unassessed, and how success is defined is still being determined. The goals and success metrics of current oyster restoration projects from 2000 to the present were evaluated. A database was created to code many projects for different characteristics and information. We identified over 30 cases from the literature, which information was extracted from and analyzed. The main restoration goal was to increase oyster populations. These results were compared to assess the effectiveness, successes, metrics, and similarities. The majority of cases with the primary method of substrate placement formed more oyster reefs and had defined metrics. Reefs constructed ranged from 0.008 acres to 1001 acres. Only large-scale cases that ranged for more than a couple of acres followed with monitoring. The most successful projects had the same elements, substrate placement, recorded number of acreage, and recycled shell. Future community restoration projects can reflect on these statistics and take the most effective routes when planning future restoration projects. It can be referenced to plan cost-effective projects.

Keywords: Oysters, Conservation,