Oysters. Famous for being a delicious morsel, with a succulent, creamy texture. Less famous for being an ecological cornerstone in our estuaries.
But that’s exactly what they are. While sitting quietly on the ocean floor, a single oyster can vacuum up to 50 gallons of water a day
through its little bivalve body. Which means those little guys can make a big difference.
When oysters filter water they remove particles, which they then either eat or deposit on the sediment. Either way, the water becomes clearer
. And clearer water means more chance for seagrass and other vegetation to grow on the sea-bed, bringing a cascade of benefits
for nature and for people.
Clear waters also mean better recreation
for swimming, boating and fishing, and fewer toxic blooms and hypoxic events.
Great, right? It would be if we still had our wild oyster reefs left… which we almost don’t.
The catastrophic declines in oyster abundance
across the U.S. are well documented. Less well known is the associated loss of benefits, such as clearer waters and more juvenile fish. Until now.