In addition to being tasty and nutritious, shellfish farming is sustainable, and provides many ecological services for the surrounding environment. This includes filtering and improving water quality and clarity, denitrification, and providing habitat for fish, aquatic vegetation, and other marine organisms. Shellfish mariculture is one of the few industries that benefits both the environment and the economy!
Below are several research projects that support the environmental benefits of shellfish mariculture, as well as resources for staying up to date on oyster restoration and development in North Carolina.
Shellfish Aquaculture is Good for the Environment: This brochure, created by the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association, highlights the environmental benefits of shellfish aquaculture.
The Oyster Restoration and Protection Plan for North Carolina: A Blueprint for Action 2021-2025: This document sets goals to harness the environmental and economic benefits of oysters, while encouraging sustainable practices. Links are created between fisheries operations with water/habitat quality protection. There are also links to annual reports on the State of the Oyster in NC.
New Technology Examines Oyster Aquaculture Ecological Services: This article from NOAA highlights a research project to document the relationship between shellfish aquaculture farms and their surrounding environment using GoPro cameras and eDNA.
The ecological role of bivalve shellfish aquaculture in the estuarine environment: Published originally in Aquaculture in 2009, this scientific review examines the impact/interaction of bivalve aquaculture (especially oysters and clams on the West Coast) with the estuarine environment.
Authors are Brett R. Dumbauld, Jennifer L. Ruesink and Steven S. Rumrill.
Oyster Grow-out Cages Function as Artificial Reefs for Temperate Fishes: This research suggests that oyster cages from shellfish aquaculture “provide good quality habitat for fishes typically associated with hard-bottom habitats.”
Authors are Jessica C. Tallman and Graham E Forrester.
Best Management Practices for Shellfish Restoration: This document provides guidelines for oyster restoration projects and related education programs.
Authors are Dorothy Leonard and Sandra Macfarlane.