News Release

For: Week of December 24, 2001

by: Christina M. Verlinde

Marine Extension Agent

Santa Rosa County

Get involved in Oyster Gardening!

In conjunction with Project Greenshores (a FDEP initiative to enhance marine habitat along the north shore of Pensacola Bay, just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge), an oyster gardening project will begin in our area. This project has many volunteer opportunities, as well as promoting increased water quality by the creation and enhancement of oyster reefs. In addition, this oyster gardening project will utilize oyster shells that are normally thrown away.

Oysters are found in many areas of the Pensacola Bay System. The delicate taste of an oyster is not the only reason to establish oyster habitat. Oysters are natural filtering mechanisms. Oysters get food and oxygen by pumping large quantities of water across their gills. During feeding, oysters take in phytoplankton, algae, bacteria, viruses, sediments and chemical containments. This increases water quality by reducing the amounts of contaminants and promotes water clarity by reducing sediments. An adult oyster can filter approximately 35 gallons of water in a day! Oyster reefs offer protection, food, and habitat to many types of marine organisms.

The spawning season takes place during the warmer months. Spawning peaks usually occur several times during the year. Oysters are mobile during the larval stage and move with currents and tides, until they select a place to“set.” The larvae are selective (in the final larval stage they develop eye spots and a foot) and prefer a clean surface that is not covered with film, detritus, soft mud or oil and grease. Once the oysters have set, they are then known as a “spat,” and may become adults within a few weeks of setting.

The goal of this oyster gardening project is to collect oyster larvae from the wild. We will distribute oyster strings (shells strung on rope or plastic) to interested waterfront property owners to hang from their docks. The strings can be placed in various waterbodies throughout our area in an attempt to determine good spat collection sites. The strings will be monitored for 2 weeks and if spat settles on the shell, the string will be transplanted to the limestone reefs at the Project Greenshores site. Oyster strings will be replaced on a regular basis.

How can you become involved in this project? Volunteers will be needed to hang oyster strings from their docks. We will ask that these volunteers keep a data sheet on daily weather and water conditions, and to periodically monitor the shell for spat development. We will need volunteers to help with drilling and stringing the oysters, collecting the shells, and volunteers willing to donate supplies. This is a hands-on water quality improvement activity that can involve volunteers of all ages! For more information on how you can be a part of this exciting project, please call Chris Verlinde, Santa Rosa County Marine Extension at (850) 623-3868 (or from the south end of the county 939-1259).

For information on environmental and marine issues, please contact Chris Verlinde at

623-3868 (for south county residents 939-1259, extension 1259).

Chris Verlinde is Marine and Sea Grant Agent for Santa Rosa County.

Extension Service programs are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin.