Part of Tampa Bay Watch’s Community Oyster Reef Enhancement (CORE) program, the Oyster Bars program creates oyster shell reefs similar to natural oyster communities found along the shoreline of Tampa Bay. The reefs improve water quality, restore hard bottom and provide habitat.
How an oyster becomes a bar:
How do you decide where to build the reefs?
An important step in any restoration process, Tampa Bay Watch works closely with governmental agencies and other environmental organizations to identify sites that need improved habitat and erosion control.
What does that mean?
OYSTER SPAT: Oyster larvae, baby oysters that are free-floating and need to attach to a solid surface to begin growing into an adult.
