Artificial Reef/Oyster Restoration Program

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

The St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program strives to support local fisheries through increasing Essential Fish Habitat, both in and offshore. Restored inshore habitats include oyster reefs which both improve water quality and provide habitat. Additionally, seagrass beds have been found colonizing areas adjacent to the restored habitats. The mechanism for this re-colonization has not been proven, but is thought to result from the oyster reefs’ stabilization of sediments and reduced turbidity. The oyster reefs are created by volunteers using oyster shells that are provided by local restaurants. The restored oyster reefs have also been document as having provided habitat and forage for at least twelve species of shore birds. The program further creates artificial hardbottoms offshore by deployment of clean, secondary concrete and steel structures (i.e. light poles, culverts) that have been donated and delivery by businesses. Although most of these businesses are local, materials have been donated from as far away as North Carolina. In the last five years, more than 13,500 tons of clean secondary concrete has been spared from the landfill, creating 19 new reefs, and providing habitat to at least 103 species of fish and numerous invertebrates.