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Oyster Habitat

A created oyster bed at the federation's preserve along Hoop Pole Creek in Carteret County.

Eastern Oyster: A Keystone Species

Microscopic oyster larvae, top, and spat. Photos courtesy of Skip Kemp

Oysters, a tasty treat to many, are also one of the most important inhabitants of our estuaries. They filter pollutants and the reefs they form are habitat to many important species of sea life. And, yes, oysters are a valuable commercial and recreational fishery. These values are often referred to as the three “F's:” food, filter and fish habitat. Our native eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) provide these vital functions free of charge.

Food – Oysters support a viable commercial and recreational fishery that is an important part of North Carolina’s cultural heritage. Oyster reefs support the production of more crabs and finfish valued at $62 million annually.
Filter – As filter feeders, oysters remove harmful pollutants, sediment and excess algae from the water. An adult is capable of filtering between 15-35 gallons of water a day.
Fish Habitat – Oyster reefs provide essential habitat for a diverse collection of aquatic animals, including many important commercial and recreational fish species. One healthy oyster reef can be home to more than an estimated 300 different adult and juvenile organisms including southern flounder, shrimp, clams and blue crabs.

Oysters in Trouble

As a keystone species in the estuary, the health of the oyster reflects the health of the coastal ecosystem. Since the early 1900’s, North Carolina’s oyster harvests have declined 90 percent. North Carolina is working to determine the status of oysters stocks, but the current estimate is that only an estimated 50 percent of the population remains from the late 1800s, due to habitat loss, pollution, diseases, and harvest pressure. This decline and continued stress on the oyster is repeated throughout the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The loss of our native eastern oyster mirrors the deterioration of water quality and decline of fisheries in these coastal systems. Linking oyster restoration with efforts to protect and restore water quality will result in increased oyster habitat and healthier coastal environments.

A barge, top, dumps oysters shells to build a reef in Dicks Bay (Photo courtesy of Ken Blevins, Wilmington Star-News).

Restoring Oysters and Water Quality

Volunteers, top, monitor the size of the oysters on the new Dicks Bay reef. Volunteers, center, also help build a reef in Bradley Creek in Wilmington (Photo courtesy of Ken Blevins, Wilmington Star-News). Oysters begin to grow on a mesh bag of shells.

The N.C. Coastal Federation has helped to coordinate the Oyster Restoration & Protection Plan (summary) for North Carolina, which links the restoration and protection of the native oyster population with a comprehensive coastal restoration and protection strategy. Significant progress is being made through the efforts of the plan’s participants, which include scientists, fishermen, policymakers and educators.

An oyster hatchery is being developed, more oyster sanctuaries are being built, more money is being spent to map oyster habitat and to identify and remove water pollution hot-spots and the public is helping restore oyster by recycling shells.

The federation uses three strategies to restore our state’s oyster population: educate and involve the public, protect the water and restore habitat.

Creating Oyster Habitat

The federation has been working since 1998 with a variety of partners to create and restore over 20 acres of oyster habitat all along the coast. Hundreds of people spent thousands of hours dumping more than 80,000 bushels of shell, thousands of bags of shell and millions of oyster larvae into the water.

Oyster Habitat Fact Sheet

Building an Oyster Reef

NCCF works with researchers, DMF and shellfish harvesters to select a project site and design the reef.

How to Get Involved

There are many exciting opportunities from shell recycling, oyster monitoring and shell bagging to get involved in oyster restoration projects. Check out our Volunteer Calendar for a project in your area or contact one of our regional offices.

Partners

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