Oyster populations are on the decline worldwide due to a variety of causes including over-harvesting, lack of husbandry, declining water quality, loss of habitat, increased run-off, and erosion. In the Chesapeake Bay oyster populations represent less than 1% of the historic resource. In South Carolina we are pro-actively managing, restoring and enhancing oyster habitat to prevent losses of this severity.

The SCDNR conducts both large-scale and small-scale, community-based oyster restoration using recycled oyster shell. In order to maximize our restoration efforts, we have been studying reef development, evaluating alternative restoration methodology, and developing metrics for evaluating restoration success.

Oyster Restoration Methods

Studies in South Carolina have demonstrated that oyster populations are substrate-limited.  Oyster larvae are abundant but there is a lack of hard substrate for attachment. Therefore oyster restoration is largely a matter of increasing the amount of hard substrate.  Oyster shells provide the best substrate for juvenile oyster attachment, so restoration has traditionally relied on replanting oyster shells.  Two problems currently face resource managers:

1. Oyster shell is becoming increasingly scarce as more states initiate restoration efforts and
2. Traditional restoration and management methods are not as effective as in the past.  In recent years, shell planting has often failed to rejuvenate an area.  Reasons for these failures vary but include rapid siltation and loss of shell due to boat wakes (link to wakes). 

SCDNR is investigating alternative methods of restoring oyster reefs.  Possibilities we are studying include: 

• Changing the time at which shell is planted
• Using alternative substrates (other than shell)
• Covering shell with mesh to stabilize it against boat wakes
• Placing shell in mesh bags to stabilize it and create 3-D structure
• Placing geotextiles under the shell to reduce sinking

We are also investigating differences among sites which affect the success of shell planting so that we can improve restoration success by refining site selection.