Programs & Projects
Seawall Oyster Reef Program
PROGRAMS & PROJECTS
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More than 44% of the shoreline
vegetation, mangroves and salt marshes -- the bay's primary nurseries --
have been destroyed to build waterfront homes and seawalls. In the city of
St. Petersburg alone, there are 288 linear miles of seawalled shoreline,
primarily in residential single-family homes on "finger fill" type
construction. Destruction of mangrove and marsh habitat has impacted
colonial shore and wading birds dependent on mangrove forests, marsh, and
sandy beaches for nesting sites. Additionally, years of poor water quality
have impacted the bay's scallop and oyster fisheries and there are
currently very few locations in Tampa Bay where oyster harvesting is
permitted due to poor or degraded water quality conditions.
Tampa Bay Watch is embarking upon efforts to protect and restore coastal communities in the Tampa Bay estuary is through our seawall oyster reef program. This regional program enhances habitat value and provides water quality benefits by constructing seawall reef units in residential canals, to promote the reestablishment of oyster reef and other littoral benthic communities.
The seawall oyster
reef balls are constructed in two sizes, using concrete. The ingredients
in the concrete mixture have been determined to be non-toxic to marine
organisms. (Originally, the reef units were constructed with a
biodegradable wooden material, but the reefs were dissolving too fast to
allow sufficient oyster growth, so this alternative material was
selected.) After curing for about a week, four to six reef balls are
placed in front of individual homeowner seawalls, depending upon the
length of the seawall property. Public parks and school properties allow a
greater number of reef units to be installed because of the larger length
of shoreline available at one location. Community events with youth
groups, fishing organizations, homeowner associations and others are also
planned to construct and install the oyster reef units at public parks or
along waterfront neighborhoods. To date, Tampa Bay Watch has installed
over 650 reef units along public and private seawalled
areas.
Anticipated Benefits to Living Marine Resources:
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The oyster reef communities provide diverse food sources or foraging areas for a variety of important fish species (redfish, snook, sheepshead), birds (American oystercatcher, ibis, herons), and other wildlife species (blue and stone crabs, and penaeid shrimp).
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Oysters are filter feeders capable of surviving in a variety of water quality conditions and are found throughout the estuarine portion of the Tampa Bay ecosystem. Oysters can potentially filter 37 liters (9.8 gallons) of seawater every hour providing a natural cleansing system for the bay.
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The hard bottom communities formed by oysters help stabilize bottom sediments, resulting in reduced turbidity levels, and lowered shoreline erosion rates, thereby protecting adjacent property owners during storm events.
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Oyster reefs greatly increase surface area and interstitial area for other attaching organisms (such as barnacles, sea squirts, anemones, sponges, corals and algae), immensely increasing the productivity of the benthic area.
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The constructed oyster communities provide recreational opportunities for the homeowners by improving fishing along the seawalls.
For more information about the Seawall Oyster Reef Program, or if you would like to have Oyster Reef Balls placed in your waterfront shoreline area, please contact us!