Oyster Reef
Oyster reef
Oyster reefs are a natural alternative to traditional hardening or restoration techniques, providing valuable fish habitat, promoting larval oyster settlement, and many other ecosystem benefits. These dense aggregations of oyster shells and live oysters provide shoreline protection, nursery habitat for many species, and economic value to local areas. Loose oyster shells are sometimes used to create this habitat, but using bags of oyster shells is another common technique. The oyster reefs in Project GreenShores II were constructed during an earlier phase of restoration at the site. They provide excellent habitat for fish and other animals. Overall, oyster reefs represent valuable ecosystems that contribute to the sustainability of coastal environments, making their conservation and restoration crucial for ecosystem health.
Pinfish (seen in 17 of 21 videos = 81%), white mullet (71%), and striped mullet (62%) were the most commonly seen species near the oyster reefs. Values are the Frequency of Occurrence, being the percentage of total videos (n = 21) in which each species was observed. Early juvenile gray snapper are less than ~6 months old, and have distinct coloration compared to older fish. Their presence can indicate important nursery habitats.
