Oysters play a vital role in our coastal environments. They help clean the water, improve fisheries, reduce coastal erosion, and support both recreational and commercial fishing. Unfortunately, local oyster populations have been severely degraded over the past century due to commercial harvesting of oyster reefs for shell material and alterations to natural freshwater flows.
Oyster River Ecology has developed innovative restoration techniques that make large-scale oyster habitat restoration possible in the Manatee River. Our goal is to restore at least one acre of oyster reef each year through grassroots funding, while engaging hundreds of volunteers and youth in hands-on, experiential environmental education.
You can be part of the solution. The cost to establish oyster reefs at our fully permitted and tested sites is just seven dollars per square foot. Please consider making a donation to help us reach this goal, restore critical oyster habitat, and improve local waterways using a natural, sustainable approach.