40 TONS OF RECYCLED OYSTER SHELLS WILL EXPAND REEF IN CHARLOTTE HARBOR
CCA Florida and partners will make fourth oyster deployment in Turtle Bay
Placida, Fla. – August 13, 2024 – On Wednesday, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida will partner with Ingman Marine, Abbott Construction, Lee Reefs, Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association (GICIA), Capt. Jay Withers, Clermont Oyster Bar and Lake County to deploy two dump truck loads of recycled oyster shells in Charlotte Harbor’s Turtle Bay in effort to boost water quality, marine fisheries and recreational angling.
The oysters will be hauled from CCA Florida’s Oyster Recycling Facility in Lake County and transported to Placida. The oysters will then be loaded onto a barge provided by Abbott Construction and deployed in Turtle Bay at a pre-permitted location.
“Oysters are natural filters for the aquatic ecosystem and play a vital role in maintaining water quality for Florida’s marine habitat,” CCA Florida Chief Operating Officer Adam Miller said. “With an estimated 85% loss of oyster reefs worldwide, we are proud to expand the Turtle Bay Oyster Reef for the fourth time in effort to restore the habitat and water quality in Charlotte Harbor, and we could not do it without the support of our community partners and members.”
The recycled oyster shells, donated by the Clermont Oyster Bar, are first dried for six months to kill any potential pathogens. Once deployed, they will eventually attract new oyster larvae, and over time will form a new oyster reef.
“A single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, and nearly 160 tons of oysters have been deployed in Turtle Bay,” CCA Florida’s Director of Habitat and Environmental Restoration Frank Gidus said. “Deploying recycled oyster shells to create a new oyster reef is a testament to our commitment to enhancing the water quality in Southwest Florida,”
The federal pre-permitted restoration site allows for more material to be deployed at this Turtle Bay site. Oyster reefs filter pollutants, create habitat for a variety of marine species and reduce turbidity which aids in seagrass growth.
The deployment will be held at 26.790187, -82.175023 on August 14. Media are encouraged to attend and plan to arrive at 11 a.m. at the Placida Park Boat Ramp, 6499 Gasparilla Road, Placida, FL 33946.
