Two dump truck loads of recycled oyster shells were added to Turtle Bay in Charlotte County as part of a reef restoration project led by the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida, aiming to improve water quality and marine life.
Jimmy Michaels, with the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida, explained the vital role oysters play in filtering water.
"Oysters that can actually historically filter up to 50 gallons a day for a full-size oyster. So it's just cleaning the water every day, all day long, and without that, the water is going to get dirtier," Michaels said.
Michaels said Turtle Bay was selected for the project because of the historic oyster growth that once thrived in the area. The recycled shells, sourced from seafood restaurants across the Gulf Coast, are placed in large mounds near the surface of the water, where they naturally disperse and promote new growth.
"So the oysters are deployed in large mounds, almost to the surface of the water, and they kind of naturally disperse from there. And then the natural growth kind of holds everything together once they get settled in," Michaels said.
The process of placing the shells into the bay takes about 30 to 40 minutes, but the benefits are expected to last for years. Michaels emphasized the importance of fostering new growth on the oyster bar being installed.
"We need to get the growth to populate on with the oyster bar that's being put down today. But once that comes back like these, this is all new growth within the last couple of years," Michaels said.
Michaels said Florida is undertaking this effort to boost the oyster population in the area.
Cole Kelly, with Punta Gorda Adventures, expressed hope that the project will lead to the return of more wildlife and highlighted the importance of preserving the environment for future generations.
"As a business, I think every business should have a goal to give back to the community. And this is our, this is our community. This is our project. We want to preserve this for future generations," Kelly said.
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