Oyster Rejuvenation Projects
by James Yu and Liliana Chai Nov 15, 2024
A lone shell rests on the seabed floor. The last of its ancestry, the oyster that calls that sand home is a final vestige of the oyster reefs which decades ago lined the shores across European and American shores. However, recent reef restoration projects across the world are working to reverse trends in declining oyster populations.
Despite their former abundance along coastlines around the world, oyster reefs have largely disappeared. Indeed, the Paleontological Research Institution states that various factors, including overharvesting, pollution, habitat destruction, and disease have caused an 85% decline in oyster reefs worldwide. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science corroborates this finding, reporting that out of 144 bays surveyed, oyster reefs had an abundance of less than 10%, compared to their previous abundance of nearly 70%. Specifically, a 2024 paper published in the scientific journal Nature Sustainability found that overexploitation by major commercial fisheries led to the collapse of oyster reefs across Europe, destroying over 1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) of oyster reefs—which news publication The Guardian compares in size to the entire country of Northern Ireland.
“The prevalence of oysters in cuisine makes them a prime target for overexploitation by fisheries. If people want to continue enjoying oyster dishes, it is crucial that oyster reefs are restored to prevent the species from disappearing off plates entirely,” Junior Chris Baek said.
In the vibrant depths of coastal ecosystems, oysters cluster together on hard, submerged surfaces near salty or brackish coastal waters, with newer ones piling on older shells. As they develop, they fuse to form rock-like reefs that provide habitat for marine plants and animals. By removing algae, sediments and pollutants from nutrient-filled water, oysters act as natural filters that improve water quality. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, according to the Paleontological Research Institution. This process creates a nurturing habitat that supports a wide variety of marine life, including crabs, scallops and fish. In addition, oysters are a protective barrier for underwater vegetation and waterfront communities during storms and floods, as the well-established beds provide resilience against strong waves and stabilize the seafloor.
“For coastal communities, including the Bay Area, preventing flooding and maintaining stable shorelines is key to these communities’ safety. Given the rising threat of land loss from rising sea levels, restoring oyster reefs across shorelines and protecting our coast is imperative,” Sophomore Lasya Madineni said.
Luckily, restoration projects are aiming to restore declining oyster reefs worldwide. In the Chesapeake Bay, where only 3% of its historical oyster population remains, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is collaborating with outside organizations to restore oyster populations in 10 tributary areas by 2025. Oyster reef restoration operates by adding substrates to the seabed in order to generate reef growth in coastal areas. Methods such as establishing hatcheries are used as well to produce seed oysters used in areas with low natural oyster reproduction rates. Regular assessments to monitor the growth of reefs and additional oyster seeding have also increased restoration effectiveness. For instance, the Billion Oyster Project in New York has restored 122 million oysters in New York Harbor with the help of community members and students, as it hosts regular events to facilitate oyster reef installations.
Previous restoration efforts have proven successful, with 96% of the 203 three-year reefs and 99% of the 70 six-year reefs from 2015 to 2020 in Maryland meeting the NOAA’s minimum requirement for oyster density. With the growing interest in protecting oyster reefs, restoration projects will continue to expand as lone shells are reunited along the seabed floor.
About the Contributors
James Yu
Page Editor
James Yu is a Junior at Leland High School and Page Editor for the Sports Section. He loves listening to music and reviewing the newest releases as Music Columnist. Outside of Journalism, he enjoys debating for the debate team, hanging out with friends, and sleeping.
Liliana Chai
Staff Writer
Liliana Chai is a sophomore at Leland High School. She is a staff writer for the 2024-25 Charger Account. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, playing piano, writing poetry and sleeping.
Isabella Zhu
Artist
Isabella is a Staff Writer/Artist, and this is her first year in Journalism. Isabella is deathly scared of running, but does cross country anyways. Her favorite things to do outside of journalism are eating, walking, and sleeping.
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