Welcome!
This website provides information about the eastern
oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in the Great Bay estuarine system in New
Hampshire. Our laboratory has been involved in a variety of restoration projects
ranging from small experimental oyster "mini-reefs" to combined
experimental/full-scale restoration (see Current Reef
Restoration Projects). Our overall goal is to continue to develop innovative,
effective, and cost-efficient techniques for restoration of oyster populations in
New Hamphire. Our program includes a shell
recycling program, projects involving sonar and underwater video reef mapping
methods, improved remote setting techniques, and new reef construction approaches.
Have you ever seen a New Hampshire oyster reef?
This video was taken using one of our underwater video systems as it was
slowly towed across a natural, undisturbed oyster reef
in New Hampshire. Most of our still productive (see Oysters in New Hampshire) reefs are regularly worked by
harvesters using tongs and have very little vertical relief. The reef in the video,
however, is in an area where harvesting is prohibited. Note the presence of many
clumps of oysters that extend vertically several centimeters into the water
column. Also, notice an area that appears to have been damaged (by boat
anchor?) near the end of the video. This reef had an average of about 500
oysters per square meter (all size classes) when this video was taken, a density
that is about 10-fold the typical density of NH reefs.
Oysters in the news -
Read the article from New Hampshire Sea Grant science
writer, Rebecca Zeiber, about oyster shell recycling and our restoration efforts in
Great Bay!
2010 Program Is Complete
5th Season for Oyster Conservationists!
Let us know if you're interested in this
program.
Please contact Ray Konisky at The
Nature Conservancy
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