Tampa - Oysters are more than just for eating! We all know that nature has a way of protecting itself, (most of the time,) but with a little bit of help from some very special volunteers, our friendly, and very tasty mollusks are now being used to reclaim some of the beaches in Tampa that are simply washing away. In order to make that task come true, some special oyster condos have been invented.

These high tech homes create a friendly environment for the oysters to live in. In a mere few weeks, these oyster Reef Balls will become completely covered, leaving a natural bank of beach-saving shellfish. To make things even better, the oysters will act as natural filters to help clean up Tampa Bay.

The deployment of the oyster domes was done by some local heroes; members of the US Air Force at MacDill. They placed hundred of the aquatic houses along the western shores at MacDill in conjunction with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the non-profit group Tampa Bay Watch. With more on this unique story, here’s