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OYSTER REEFS CLEAN WATER
Florida dumped 500,000 tonnes of used oyster shells into the Gulf. What happened next surprised researchers in development of new reefs, and cleaner waterOver the past 16 years, Florida has successfully returned over 500,000 tons of shells to the Gulf, providing vital surfaces for young oyste...
In 2009, Belize’s Barrier Reef System was listed as endangered by UNESCO. 9 years later, oil drilling limits and protected fishing zones helped reverse its declineBelize's Barrier Reef Reserve System was removed from UNESCO's danger list in 2018. This followed the country's implementation of crucial c...
Researchers crushed mussel, cockle and oyster shells collected from a Dublin beach and added them to polluted water; the experiment cleaned the water while recovering valuable metalsA team of researchers discovered that discarded seashells have the ability to purify water by removing rare earth metals. Among various she...
In 2016, Texas built RGV Reef from 477 piles of railroad ties and concrete across 1,650 acres off South Padre Island; sonar estimated 24.4 tons of fish biomass thereA groundbreaking artificial reef off the Texas coast now sustains more than twenty-four tons of fish biomass. Constructed from discarded ra...
New Jersey sank 397 obsolete army tanks and armored vehicles from 1994 to 1997 in 40 to 140 feet of water; a five-year study found 432,000 animals of 145 species per square metre of reef habitatIn a remarkable initiative, obsolete US Army tanks were intentionally submerged off the New Jersey coast, creating vibrant artificial reefs...
At 18, this Virginia teen helped 70 young volunteers to restore the Chesapeake Bay. They removed nearly 5,000 pounds of debris in a yearAt just a teenager, James Hemphill launched a remarkable six-year environmental initiative. Co-founding Project Green Teens, he rallied num...
In 1930, Texas built three bird-nesting islands; all vanished. One restored island is now home to over 2,500 nesting habitatThree Texas islands, once flourishing habitats for diverse bird species, have vanished due to natural erosion and subsidence. However, a si...
In 1997, Florida sank 8 A-7 Corsairs and a T-2 trainer off Jacksonville; 5 years later, all remained in place and were regularly used by divers and fishermenIn 1997, retired A-7 Corsair aircraft were deliberately sunk off the Florida coast, serving a dual purpose as artificial reefs. This innova...
In 2000, NOAA planted 500 square meters of cordgrass and added oyster shell on Pivers Island; the living shoreline later weathered Hurricanes Irene and FlorenceIn North Carolina, a living shoreline project has proven effective in combating significant erosion, relying on natural materials like mars...
In 1997, US Army began Maryland's oyster restoration partnership in Chesapeake Bay. 24 years later, about 600 acres of new oyster bars had been created across MarylandMaryland partnership formally began with the project cooperation agreement executed in February 1997. Restoration sites eventually included...
In 1993, Miami lowered a retired Boeing 727 called Spirit of Miami into the sea; a storm split it apart a year later, and coral, oysters, and fish moved inThe Spirit of Miami, a retired Boeing 727, now lies submerged beneath the waves, purposefully sunk to provide an ecological haven. The deva...
This city in Florida lost nearly 80% of its Oyster reefs; now a restoration project is rebuilding what disappeared. Here's howNaples Bay is taking an innovative step by restoring its oyster reefs, which will enhance natural shoreline defenses. These vital reefs pla...
In 2009, Jacksonville sank the former Coast Guard tender Spike in 100 feet of water; one year later, a REEF diver counted 16 fish species, up from just 6An ex-Coast Guard ship now stands as an artificial reef, drawing the attention of vibrant marine life. At first, the submerged metal hull w...
In 2009, Key West sank the 523-foot Vandenberg in 140 feet of water; one year later, REEF monitoring had documented 123 fish species on the former shipIn 2009, the retired missile ship Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg was deliberately sunk near Key West, giving rise to a significant artificial reef...
How a student turned waste glass into an ‘oyster home’ and won Rs 1.2 lakh awardA Florida high school student, Delaney Peterson, has explored an unusual way to support oyster reef restoration, by turning discarded glass...
In 2024, researchers tested crushed waste concrete as a base for Chesapeake oyster reefs; oyster spat grew and survived with no detectable hydrocarbon leachingIn the Chesapeake Bay, recycled concrete rubble is proving to be a nursery for young oysters. Scientists have discovered that this crushed ...
In Texas, oyster-shell waste became reef “shell bags”; along Galveston Bay, the new shell reefs supported living oysters and helped stabilize shorelinesThe Galveston Bay Foundation has initiated a commendable recycling program to repurpose oyster shells from local restaurants for vital reef...
Louisiana used 13 million pounds of discarded oyster shells to build 8,000 feet of living shoreline; studies found oyster reefs can reduce wave heights under some conditionsIn Louisiana, discarded oyster shells are being creatively transformed into living shorelines to combat coastal erosion and rising sea leve...
The Savannah River swapped bare marsh edge for oyster reefs in 2023; wave energy fell by up to 40%, giving Georgia coasts a tougher storm shieldScientists built oyster reefs in Georgia's Savannah River to reduce wave energy. These reefs lessened wave impact on the shoreline by as mu...
Since 2016, Alabama has recovered more than 22.6 million discarded oyster shells; the restaurant waste is being returned to coastal waters to help build reefsIn Alabama, restaurants are making waves by recycling oyster shells to bolster crucial reef restoration efforts. These once-discarded shell...