Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Why Build Oyster Reefs Now?

 On Jan. 22, 2011 Mobile BAYKEEPER, Nature Conservancy and many other groups and agencies teamed up to recreate oyster reefs for marsh protection.
Due to over harvesting, pollution and other reasons the oyster reefs have been severely depleted. This project is one of many scheduled to help the architects of the Gulf, the oysters, to make a comeback so they can once again flourish, creating more marsh habitat  in the process.

9 comments:

  1. This is truly idiotic. They are setting fragile mollusks into waters that are still being tested independently and are coming up highly toxic with oil and tarballs washing ashore in many places. I commend you for trying to do the right thing but this should have been done before the spill and after the cleanup and test come in clear for VOCs. WAKE UP!

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  2. P.S. If these are harvested what percentage will be tested for VOC(Volatile Organic Compounds)before they are put onto restaurants tables. The Exxon Valdez spill wasn't even a tenth of what happened in the Gulf and Prince William Sound's fisheries are still not back to normal after 2 decades. BUYER BEWARE!!!

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  3. Considering what's happening in the blackbird die-offs, none:

    Blackbird Die-Offs: Another Silent Spring?
    Could the BP Oil Gusher in the Gulf Be to Blame?
    http://blog.locustfork.net/2011/01/blackbird-die-offs-another-silent-spring/

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  4. "Anonymous said...
    This is truly idiotic."

    I will not insult you as you have me and the ones who built this reef to act as a wave break only. If new oysters grow on these DEAD and opened shells placed to create the reef, then we have a bonus. It was never created for a food source and the shells were as empty as your head.

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  5. "Anonymous said...
    P.S. If these are harvested what percentage will be tested for VOC"

    If they are harvested now, there will be NO OYSTERS! They are empty shells. The spat from other oysters will have to land here and regenerate this reef to harvest. That takes years. If you are still around then, please insist that they are tested.

    Did you not even listen to the scientists interviewed explain what and why this is being done? After all, that is what the entire video is about.

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  6. "Anonymous said...
    Considering what's happening in the blackbird die-offs, none:"

    What do blackbirds have to do with creating a wave barrier to restore salt marsh?

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  7. What bothers me is that there is absolutely no mention of the BP oil disaster and its effects on Mobile Bay. This really looks like a lt of wishful thinking and a diversion from mobilizing people and resources to do water samping and testing that is sorely needed.

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  8. Just to explain a little further into this project. The project aims to build HABITAT for oysters, shrimp, crabs, fish, birds, etc...

    There is NO aquaculture involved in this project - i.e. they are putting oyster SHELL only in the bay in the video. The shell was leftover material from commercial shucking operations in Bayou la Batre.

    Additionally, this particular restoration project is in waters that are closed to harvesting, so people won't be eating the oysters that may grow on these reefs.

    This project is NOT wishful thinking. This project is based on years of studies by some of the most renowned shellfish scientists in the world.

    This type of restoration works and projects like this will help to keep up with the rate of habitat loss.

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  9. Thanks for that explanation. I personally think this is a great project for all of us who wanted to get out and do something but were told no by BP. Now, we finally have an outlet for our deep desire to protect what we love - Mobile Bay and the Gulf Coast. Great job!

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