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.
The most commonly observed species near the oyster reefs in both Fall 2023 (dark shading) and Fall 2024 (dark shading) were Pinfish (81-83%), white mullet (61-71%), and striped mullet (62-94%). Early juvenile gray snapper were observed in Fall 2024. Early juveniles are less than ~6 months old and have distinct coloration compared to older fish. Their presence can indicate important nursery habitats. Fry are newly settled juvenile fish that are too small to identify further. Values are the Frequency of Occurrence, being the percentage of total videos (Fall 2023: n = 21, Fall 2024: n = 18) in which each species was observed.
