Oyster Reef Restoration Project

The Nature Conservancy / Florida Chapter

r Indian River Lagoon 8 Oyster Reef Restoration Project

Oyster reefs: • Improve water quality • Stabilize creek banks and bottom areas • Preserve shorelines • Provide refuge for a variety of wildlife, including shrimp, blue crab, red fish and sea trout.

Oysters: • Filter and clean water • Are a food source for fish, birds and invertebrates importance of oyster reefs

Oyster reefs provide habitat for a variety of wildlife © Mat Squillante

Background Restoring this natural filtration Oyster Reef Restoration Project Oysters are a keystone species in “system” is critical to restoring and The Nature Conservancy is coastal ecosystems like the Indian maintaining the overall health of coordinating a project to restore River Lagoon. They grow in reefs the lagoon. The number of native 60 to 80 oyster reefs in Mosquito that provide habitat for many types oysters in the Indian River Lagoon Lagoon within the boundaries of commercially and recreationally has drastically declined since the of Canaveral National Seashore. important finfish and invertebrates, late 1800s as a result of overfishing, University of Central Florida such as blue crab and shrimp. habitat degradation, reduced water Associate Professor Dr. Linda quality, increases in disease, and Walters and her students plan to Oysters are filter feeders, which wakes from recreational boating in restore reefs across approximately makes them natural water purifiers. shallow areas. 40 acres with the help of volunteers. As they feed, they remove algae and The restored reefs will increase the sediments from coastal waters. This Studies have shown that free- numbers of oysters and other wild- increases water clarity and increases swimming oyster larvae will settle life that use oyster reefs for shelter. the amount of sunlight that reaches on virtually any available hard submerged aquatic vegetation, such surface. However, their chance for Oyster reef restoration involves as seagrass, that provides habitat and survival is much greater when they “planting” oyster shell or other hard feeding grounds for other wildlife. settle on other oyster shells because substrate. In the Mosquito Lagoon these provide small oysters the best project, reefs will be rebuilt using protection from predators. shells attached to mesh to provide 1. With the help of volunteers, create 60 to 80 oyster reefs over approximately 40 acres in Mosquito Lagoon within the Canaveral National Seashore.

2. By restoring oyster reefs, increase diversity of wildlife in the lagoon. project project goals

3. Improve understanding of how oyster reefs serve as habitat for many commercially and recreationally important finfishes and invertebrates.

the structure for oyster larvae to How You Can Help Project Funding settle on. Newly created reefs will To meet our goal of restoring 40 This project is being funded be protected as sanctuaries where acres of oyster reefs in Mosquito through the National Partnership harvesting will not be allowed. This Lagoon, we need volunteers to help grant between the National Oceanic will help increase the number of make 4,500 oyster shell “mats.” and Atmospheric Administration oysters and will help improve their These mats serve as the building Restoration Center and The Nature resistance to disease. blocks for the oyster reefs. Conservancy. This project would not be possible without the support Each 18” by 18” mat is made up of 36 from the following partners: oyster shells attached with zip ties. It’s a simple and fun activity that is a • University of Central Florida great project for a group to do in • Canaveral National Seashore 1 to 2 hours. • Indian River Lagoon National Before mat-making begins, a Nature Estuary Program Conservancy representative will • St. Johns River Water provide background information Management District and basic mat-making instructions. • Brevard County Watershed Conservancy staff will deliver your Action Volunteer Program completed mats to Dr. Walters for deployment into the lagoon. • Citizen volunteers throughout the lagoon region For more information, and to sign up your group, contact: The Nature Conservancy Indian River Lagoon Program 1333 Gateway Drive, Suite 1016 The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to Melbourne, FL 32901 preserve the plants, animals and natural tel (321) 956-7711 communities that represent the diversity fax (321) 956-7722 of life on Earth by protecting the lands and

UCF student deploys finished oyster mat in Mosquito nature.org/florida waters they need to survive. Lagoon © Linda Walters