Are We Falling Short on Restoring Oysters at a Regional Scale?

Peyre, Megan K. La; Marshall, Danielle A.; Buie, Sarah Catherine L.; Hijuelos, Ann; Steyer, Gregory D.

doi:10.1007/s00267-022-01691-y

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Many restoration efforts in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere have not had the desired outcome (LaPeyre et al 2022; NAS 2022). Uncertainty about how to restore and manage oyster populations has persisted for decades or even centuries in Florida (Swift 1897, 1898; Pine et al 2015), and there has long been a call to incorporate more learning into restoration and management programs (Walters 1986, 2007; Gunderson 1999; Bouwes et al 2016; NAS 2022; Pine et al 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collapsed oyster populations in large Florida estuaries appear resistant to restoration using traditional cultching methods—Insights from ongoing efforts in multiple systems

Pine,

Brucker,

Davis

et al. 2023

Mar Coast Fish

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ObjectiveDepressed eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica populations in the northern Gulf of Mexico have been the target of numerous post‐Deepwater Horizon restoration projects. These projects primarily have focused on replacing oyster cultch (substrate) to promote spat settlement, increase recruitment, and bolster adult oyster populations. This study assessed the outcomes of six such efforts, which used different cultch types and densities between 2015 and 2022 in three estuaries on the Florida panhandle (Pensacola, St. Andrew, and Apalachicola bays). Total restoration costs for these projects were more than US$14 million.MethodsUsing generalized linear models, we analyzed oyster count data collected from diver surveys in three size‐classes (spat, seed, and adult). We tested whether oyster population responses in the six restoration efforts varied over time, location, or study design.ResultOyster counts did not persistently increase after restoration, regardless of cultch type or density. Positive responses to restoration efforts were irregular and short‐lived and seemed only to occur for spat‐size oysters immediately after restoration. None of the restoration efforts significantly improved the abundance of oysters of any size‐class in any of the study estuaries. Factors contributing to these results likely include design and implementation elements, such as the materials used and the height of the restored reefs. However, monitoring programs have not been able to deliver a clear picture of what is hindering restoration success.ConclusionFor oyster restoration efforts to succeed, changes are needed—both in their implementation and in the way they are monitored—in order to promote continuous learning and improvement in restoration outcomes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collapsed oyster populations in large Florida estuaries appear resistant to restoration using traditional cultching methods—Insights from ongoing efforts in multiple systems

Pine,

Brucker,

Davis

et al. 2023

Mar Coast Fish

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“…Long-term evaluations of aquaculture-assisted oyster restoration highlight the factors contributing to their success, including adequately addressing the root causes of population decline (Mann and Powell, 2007). However, even for well-established methods, regional scale impacts, including on adjacent and connected wild oyster reef populations, are poorly understood (La Peyre et al, 2022).…”

Section: Methods For Increasing Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

Culturing for conservation: the need for timely investments in reef aquaculture

et al. 2023

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Temperate oyster and tropical coral reefs are analogous systems that create habitat for economically, ecologically, and culturally important species, and they provide countless ecosystem services to human coastal communities. Globally, reefs are imperiled by multiple anthropogenic stressors, particularly climate impacts. Using aquaculture to support conservation goals - known as conservation aquaculture - is a relatively new approach for many reef building species, but it shows great promise for promoting species recovery and bolstering resilience to stressors. Concerns about aquaculture-associated risks, both known and potential, have often restricted the implementation of this tool to an emergency intervention following dramatic declines on reefs, when species or systems were unlikely to recover. Here, we combine expertise from coral and oyster reef ecosystems to consider the role of aquaculture as a conservation intervention for reefs, and provide recommendations for its timely development and targeted implementation. We highlight the importance of evaluating reef systems - alongside local stakeholders and Indigenous communities - to determine where and when the benefits of using aquaculture are most likely to outweigh the risks. We spotlight the importance of proactive monitoring to detect reef population declines, and the value of early aquaculture interventions to increase efficacy. Novel aquaculture approaches and technologies specifically designed for reef builders are considered, including techniques for building complex, multi-generational and multi-species reefs. We address the need for scaling up aquaculture-assisted reef recovery, particularly of corals, using high volume methods like those that have been successfully employed for oysters. We also recommend the immediate assessment and development of techniques to increase climate resilience of reef builders and we identify the challenges and trade-offs of these approaches. We highlight the use of proof-of-concept projects to test these promising methods, and we advise tracking of all interventions over time to determine their long-term efficacy. Finally, we outline opportunities to leverage novel partnerships among conservation, industry, and community interests that utilize aquaculture to facilitate the conservation of reefs. Developing conservation aquaculture approaches now is critical to position managers, scientists, and restoration practitioners to implement this intervention in timely and effective ways to support resilient reef and human communities worldwide.

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“…For example, given a limited amount of restoration substrate, restoration designs could be prioritized by their ability to meet criteria such as maximizing reef area available to be settled by oysters, or increasing reef height to potentially avoid deleterious conditions (e.g., hypoxia) and be exposed to favorable conditions (e.g., increased food quality) associated with deeper water (Breitburg et al, 2000). Whereas low-relief reef designs can be beneficial in increasing the restoration footprint and meeting largescale ecosystem restoration goals (e.g., La Peyre et al, 2022;Hemraj et al, 2022), decreasing the areal footprint in exchange for increasing reef height can enhance ecological benefits and habitat resilience (Lenihan, 1999;Tolley and Volety, 2005;Powers et al, 2009;Gregalis et al, 2009;Schulte et al, 2009;Powell et al, 2012;Colden et al, 2017;Peters et al, 2017). In this study, we evaluate habitat provision for oysters and motile reef-resident fauna on highand low-relief restored oyster reefs for 36 months after reef construction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reef design influences habitat provision on a restored oyster reef

Beseres Pollack,

Sugla,

Breaux

et al. 2024

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Habitat restoration efforts are often limited by cost, making it important that available funds are used efficiently and effectively to achieve desired restoration goals. In this study, we evaluate habitat provision for oysters and motile epifauna on restored oyster reefs in a northwestern Gulf of Mexico estuary constructed with discrete high vertical relief (~0.6 m “reef mounds”) or continuous low vertical relief (<0.08 m “reef flats”). Habitat provision on reef mounds exceeded that on reef flats within one month of construction and supported 0.75x higher oyster density, 2x higher motile epifauna biomass, and 3.6x higher motile epifauna density one year after construction. Oyster density on reef mounds remained relatively high throughout the study period, with ~2x higher oyster densities than reef flats 18 months after construction and ~1.5x higher oyster densities by the end of the study. Both reef mounds and reef flats increased oyster and epifaunal densities compared to unrestored areas. Although on-reef oyster densities were higher on reef mounds than reef flats, the total restored oyster areal density and volumetric density was higher in restored reef flat areas, primarily because the restored flats area had no gaps within its restoration boundaries. Our findings have practical value for better predicting restoration outcomes and achieving desired restoration goals based on restored oyster reef height, with reef mounds maximizing on-reef oyster and epifaunal densities and reef flats maximizing the total number of oysters per area restored or volume of substrate purchased. Understanding the benefits and tradeoffs between restoration designs will allow resource managers to improve cost-efficiencies in future restoration projects.

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Are We Falling Short on Restoring Oysters at a Regional Scale?

Cited by 9 publications

References 51 publications

Collapsed oyster populations in large Florida estuaries appear resistant to restoration using traditional cultching methods—Insights from ongoing efforts in multiple systems

Collapsed oyster populations in large Florida estuaries appear resistant to restoration using traditional cultching methods—Insights from ongoing efforts in multiple systems

Culturing for conservation: the need for timely investments in reef aquaculture

Reef design influences habitat provision on a restored oyster reef

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