Concrete to Help Oysters?

Rings designed to attract oysters may help restore reefs diminished by overharvesting, pollution, and recent oil spill activities, experts say.

Oyster reefs, once so plentiful they blocked shipping traffic, have been in decline due to overharvesting, pollution, and recent oil spill activities, experts say. But scientists are working to restore the reefs using special material called oysterkrete.

AS SCIENTISTS, BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS SEEK TO REMEDY THE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE HUGE OIL SPILL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, IT IS CLEAR THEY MUST ALSO ADDRESS SOME OF THE GULF’S LONGSTANDING PROBLEMS.

EVEN BEFORE THE BP WELL STARTED SPEWING OIL, THE GULF REGION STRUGGLED WITH POOR WATER QUALITY, LOSS OF WETLANDS AND PLUMMETING POPULATIONS OF A VARIETY OF ANIMAL SPECIES. IT TURNS OUT ONE POSSIBLE KEY TO SOLVING SOME OF THESE ISSUES IS AN UNLIKELY LIVING CREATURE: THE OYSTER.

HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO,

DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE

Read This Next

Is banning fishing bad for fishermen? Not in this marine reserve
SeaWorld allegedly violated the Animal Welfare Act. Why is it still open?
'World’s worst shipwreck' was bloodier than we thought

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet