Today is National Oyster Day, and here at the North Carolina Coastal Federation we know there’s a lot to celebrate about these multitasking bivalves. Not only are they a delicacy and a sustainable protein source, oysters are also filter feeders that naturally clean coastal waters. They support North Carolina’s coastal economy as well.


Some of the many reasons the federation restores, advocates for and educations people about oysters include:

  • One adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, removing harmful pollutants, sediment and excess algae from the water.
  • Oysters provide habitat for important types of North Carolina seafood, including blue crabs and finfish. These are valued at more than $62 million annually.
  • One oyster reef can provide homes for an estimated 300 different adult and juvenile organisms, including shrimp, southern flounder, blue crabs and clams.
  • Shellfish mariculture is a growing industry in the state, enabling local oysters to be available year-round at some restaurants. Wild oyster harvest numbers are generally trending up, and oyster season is expanding beyond just months that contain “r.”
  • When used in living shorelines, bags of oyster shells help control shoreline erosion while providing habitat.
  • Oyster shells are one of the best substrates for spat, or juvenile oysters, to attach and grow on. That’s why the federation and the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries encourage people and restaurants to recycle oyster shells.
  • Oyster restoration projects are more like large-scale construction projects than many realize. The federation has been involved in several projects that have provided work for contractors, construction workers, barge operations, university researchers, scientists, state agency employees and fishermen. Its most recent project restored 15 acres of oyster reef to Pamlico Sound as part of the Senator Jean Preston Oyster Sanctuary Network.
  • Cleaner water and more fish habitat benefits both the fishing and tourism industries.

Want more information about what’s being done to restore oysters and to inform people about oysters’ importance? Check out these resources.

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