Clearly, Gulf Coast Oysters are a highly demanded culinary delicacy not just in U.S. Coastal areas, but land-locked areas also create a high demand on the delicious little shellfish. Oysters are big business along the Gulf Coast! And, if you’re seated at an oyster bar, we watch in amazement as these little morsels are dug out of hard clumps of shells to delight our taste buds. So, after our tongues are delighted and our bellies are satisfied, what becomes of all of that oyster shell refuse? Well, smart environmentalists know that oyster beds take many years to form, and that it’s not just about the culinary delight! Oysters, being a filtering organism, are a sign of estuary health. Thus, Oyster Reef Restoration projects are vital to preserving healthy bays and estuaries. In the near future, the Texas State Aquarium will conduct an Oyster Restoration program in our area. Oyster Reef Restoration projects involve the placement of more than millions of pounds of cultch – which is typically made up of fossilized shell, coral or other similar materials produced by living organisms designed to provide points of attachment for oysters. The purpose of the cultch is to provide habitat for oyster colonization.
Oyster habitat is vital to the health of an estuary, effectively filtering nutrients, fine sediments and toxins from the water column. They support critical fisheries and protected resources, improve water quality and protect shorelines. Oysters are an indicator species, meaning that their presence in the water can be used to gather information on the overall health of the estuary.
Please check back on this website for more information on Oyster Restoration efforts in our area, spear headed by the Texas State Aquarium.
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