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Making Breakwaters Biologically Active
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The Coastal America Foundation (CAF) has been experimenting with oyster deployments on man made structures to enhance ecological productivity. Oysters deployments have used certified individual Crassostrea virginica from local growers. Since 2010 CAF divers have surveyed several breakwaters, jetties and rock outcrops that have no oysters present. Small groups of oysters were planted on these barren areas after surveying and photo-documentation. Annual monitoring and re-deployments are documented below. The effort is to provide increased biological activity (filtration, nitrogen fixation, larval output, etc.) by determining the feasibility of oyster colonization on existing hard bottom structure.
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One of the deployment areas is Stony Point Dike in Buzzards Bay. CAF dives have found only one oyster in 2010 and no set scars in the study area, indicating potential for restoration if set density of this remote man made rock habitat can be increased. Three dozen oysters (black marking) were placed in 2010. Returning in 2011 the dive team found 8 oyster scars and one new oyster. Photo-documentation is below.
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