Florida Oceanographic Society Oyster Restoration at the Driftwood in Jensen

Oyster Restoration at the Driftwood in Jensen photo: cyndi lenz

Oyster Restoration at the Driftwood in Jensen
photo: cyndi lenz

Oyster Restoration at the Driftwood in Jensen photo: cyndi lenz

Oyster Restoration at the Driftwood in Jensen
photo: cyndi lenz

Florida Oceanographic Society Oyster Restoration at the Driftwood in Jensen

According to Dr Vincent Encomio we have lost over 80% of the Oyster Reefs here in the St. Lucie River. The biofiltration and the habitat they are creating is vital to the health of the lagoon and the estuary.

Here is  the story in photos from  April 29 of this project at the Driftwood Motel in Jensen. The Driftwood Motel is owned by our friend Irene Nethery Gomes who is a tireless advocate for the Indian River Lagoon and our way of life in Martin County.

Irene Nethery Gomes the owner of the Driftwood lends her waterfront for Oyster Restoration photo:cyndi lenz

Irene Nethery Gomes the owner of the Driftwood lends her waterfront for Oyster Restoration photo:cyndi lenz

Oyster Restoration at the Driftwood in Jensen

The Reef Builders are coming!
photo: cyndi lenz

Oyster Restoration at the Driftwood in Jensen photo: cyndi lenz

Oyster Restoration at the Driftwood in Jensen
photo: cyndi lenz

 

 

Vincent Encomio, PhD, Research Scientist, spearheads the effort to restore the oyster population devastated by fresh-water discharges into the estuary that began in 2005 and continues today! The oysters are critical to cleaning the water and providing habitat and food for up to 300 estuarine species.

Florida Oceanographic staff and volunteers grow oyster larvae and spat at the Coastal Center. When they mature, Dr. Encomio and others lead volunteers in building oyster-shell reefs and populate them with the growing oysters. Additionally, oyster shells are collected at local restaurants.
The shells are quarantined and then bagged by staff and volunteers and deployed to create new oyster-shell reefs in the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie River estuaries. Their progress is monitored using cutting-edge acoustic technology.

Learn more about Florida Oceanographic’s shell recycling partnership with the City of Stuart.

For more information on how you can get involved, please contact Vincent at 772-225-0505, ext 112.

To register as a volunteer with Florida Oceanographic, please complete our online volunteer application.

 

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