A submerged breakwater reef was created along two stretches of shoreline, protecting more than 18 acres of habitat for submerged aquatic vegetation and creating almost two acres of oyster reef. When all is said and done, the submerged reefs will protect more than a mile of coastal habitat by reflecting erosive wave energy away from the shoreline, unlike traditional erosion protection structures that contribute to habitat loss. Oyster Restoration, in Alabama. Captions and Photo source: NOAA Fisheries
By Brian Skoloff, Associated Press
Volunteers from across the country are rebuilding oyster reefs along the Gulf of Mexico’s delicate shoreline, hoping to revive oyster beds under assault for decades from overharvesting, coastal development, pollution, and most recently the BP oil spill.
The waters harbor much of the world’s last remaining productive natural oyster beds, but BP PLC’s oil well blowout dumped millions of gallons of crude into the Gulf and dealt yet another blow to the once bountiful habitat…
