Oyster reefs offer hope for stronger, healthier waters

Oyster reefs offer hope for stronger, healthier waters

Oystermen in the Apalachicola Bay area are welcoming home their oysters for the first time in five years. Once abundant in the Apalachicola Bay region, oyster populations have declined dramatically starting around 2013 due to overharvesting, habitat loss and pollution. My research focuses on understanding how oyster reefs can protect the shore from erosion. A single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, removing excess algae, …