Volunteers, Boaters Needed For Oyster Reef Creation
March 8, 2010 by St. Lucie Times Staff · Leave a Comment
Volunteers and boaters are needed to help St. Lucie County transport and deploy bags of oyster shells Monday, March 22 through Saturday, March 27.
With the help of numerous volunteers, the St. Lucie County Erosion District has bagged more than 47,600 pounds of oyster shells in mesh bags with the goal of placing them into the Indian River Lagoon to help create oyster beds. Oyster beds help improve water quality and provide habitat for marine life.
The bags of oysters will be transported from the County’s collection site at Harbour Pointe Park, 350 Avenue M Extension E, to a spoil island staging area in the Indian River Lagoon. Volunteers and boats are needed to help load and transport these oyster bags March 22-26 at Harbour Pointe Park at a time to be determined. Volunteers and boaters for the deployment will meet on Saturday, March 27 at 8 a.m. at the North Dock of the Fort Pierce City Marina (across from the Manatee Center and boat ramp).Volunteers should wear comfortable clothing and bring sunscreen, water and gloves.
St. Lucie County is collecting oyster shells from area raw bars including: Bluewater Grill, Chef Lin’s Asian Buffet, Chuck’s Seafood, Conchy Joe’s, Miller’s Jensen Ale House, Mr. Manatee’s, New England Fish Market and Restaurant, the Original Tiki Bar and Restaurant, the Ramp Raw Bar, St. Lucie Draft House and 12A Buoy. If other local raw bars or seafood restaurants want to start collecting oyster shells, St. Lucie County has new five-gallon buckets with lids available.
For more information about volunteering or donating oyster shells, contact St. Lucie County Marine Resource Coordinator Jim Oppenborn at (772) 462-1713.
