BARBER, A.L.*; WALTERS, L.; BIRCH, A.; University of Central Florida; University of Central Florida; The Nature Conservancy: Restoration of Intertidal Oyster Reefs Affected by Intense Boating Activity in Shallow Florida Waterways
In recent years, intertidal reefs of the oyster Crassostrea virginica in central Florida�s coastal areas have suffered extensive losses due to wakes from recreational boats. The creation and enforcement of �no wake� zones in the area are unlikely. Thus there is an urgent need for an alternative restoration strategy before oyster reefs decline past the point of no return. The goal of this project is to implement a scientifically-based restoration technique that minimizes wake damage from recreational vessels on intertidal reefs in Canaveral National Seashore (CANA). To accomplish this, we will test a range of restoration measures to determine the optimal design that best increases: 1) the numbers of oysters, 2) 3-D structure of our intertidal reefs, and 3) biodiversity and abundances of sessile and motile species on reefs. These restoration measures will include all combinations of leveling piles of disarticulated shells on reefs, placing seagrass seaward of reefs, and deploying miniature, mobile oyster reefs (restoration mats) to provide substrate for oyster recruitment and survival. Our restoration mat design includes affixing 36 drilled oyster shells to 0.4 x 0.4 m2 pieces of black mesh. After completing this experimental objective, the majority of our effort will be to implement our optimal design to increase reef dimensions to historical levels within the bounds of CANA. Our goal is to restore 15 – 20% of the 400 reefs (60 � 80 reefs) in the project area (approximately 40 acres) that have been damaged by wakes from recreational vessels.
