The Massachusetts Oyster Project is working on an exciting effort to return Massachusetts marine estuaries to their historic natures through the restoration of once native oysters. Through oyster placements, we can improve water quality while attracting other sea life including crabs, eel grass, shrimp, bluefish and striped bass.

Here is a brief overview of what we have been doing the past 4 years:

In October of 2008, we placed 150,000 oysters in Boston Harbor at the mouth of the Charles River in an exciting day that included James Hunt, Boston’s Chief of Environmental and Energy Services. With close to 100 people in the crowd and intense media coverage, we watched children spread the oysters and begin the exciting initiative. Since that time we have placed additional oysters each fall using evolving and improving approaches. We are learning a great deal about techniques to maximize survival and reduce mortality from silt and more importantly predation.  It appears that starfish and crabs like our oysters as well.

In 2010 - 2011 we also ran a very small pilot at Dorchester Yacht Club in Malibu Bay South of Boston.  This area can have very high pollution counts due to surface run-off.  This project was initiated with the assistance of Anamarija Frankic of UMass Boston who also runs the Green Boston Harbor Project.  The oysters suspended off the dock grew very well, and the members of the Yacht Clib were highly supportive, however the experiment was discontinued at the request of the Division of Marine Fisheries.  We continue at only our main site at the opening of the Charles River.

We have made posters and oral presentations at numerous scientific meetings and have seen our interns go on to bigger things in the marine biology world.  These include Semester at Sea and Mount Desert Island Biological Lab in Maine. 

To learn more, visit our blog, attend an event, contribute, get involved.