The Massachusetts Oyster Project For Clean Water Restoring oysters to their natural range to improve harbor water quality July 18, 2008 A Local Non-Profit Effort to Improve Harbor Water Quality Through The Introduction of Oysters via Surface Disbursal

Our Goal Re-establish protected oyster reef populations on suitable areas on the Charles, Mystic, Neponset, Chelsea Creek, Fort Point Channel and other areas to improve water quality, offset run-off pollution, attract other sea life and help perpetuate the species. These oysters will be placed in areas closed to shell fishing and are not intended to be harvested- ever.

Re-establish protected oyster reef populations on suitable areas on the Charles, Mystic, Neponset, Chelsea Creek, Fort Point Channel and other areas to improve water quality, offset run-off pollution, attract other sea life and help perpetuate the species.

These oysters will be placed in areas closed to shell fishing and are not intended to be harvested- ever.

Boston Oysters 1881 1634

Oyster Demise Loss of habitat- through fill Over-harvesting- feeding humans Misuse- oyster shells and sometimes whole oysters were spread on fields to reduce soil acidity River subjugation-protective dams convert significant areas of Back Bay and Mystic Rivers to fresh water. Pollution- sewage flows, river silt, chemicals

Loss of habitat- through fill

Over-harvesting- feeding humans

Misuse- oyster shells and sometimes whole oysters were spread on fields to reduce soil acidity

River subjugation-protective dams convert significant areas of Back Bay and Mystic Rivers to fresh water.

Pollution- sewage flows, river silt, chemicals

Oyster Benefits Filtering water in rivers and tidal estuaries 30 gallons per oyster per day Feeding on phytoplankton, removing silt from water column Improves water clarity Offsetting impact from sewer overflows and other manmade pollutants Capturing nitrogen, algae and bacteria Cleaner water attracts other sea life and people Crassostrea Virginica

Filtering water in rivers and tidal estuaries

30 gallons per oyster per day

Feeding on phytoplankton, removing silt from water column

Improves water clarity

Offsetting impact from sewer overflows and other manmade pollutants

Capturing nitrogen, algae and bacteria

Cleaner water attracts other sea life and people

Oyster Habitat Oysters prefer to live in beds or reefs Located below low tide line and less than 30 feet of water They will attach to other oyster shells or other hard surfaces They grow in beds upwards and open fractionally to capture and filter water. Lower salinity water seems to be preferable as this deters certain pathogens MSX Dermo Will survive water temperatures of 28-90 degrees. Oyster reefs are the coral reefs of the North.

Oysters prefer to live in beds or reefs

Located below low tide line and less than 30 feet of water

They will attach to other oyster shells or other hard surfaces

They grow in beds upwards and open fractionally to capture and filter water.

Lower salinity water seems to be preferable as this deters certain pathogens

MSX

Dermo

Will survive water temperatures of 28-90 degrees.

What we did… Began pitching people on the idea of restoring oysters to Boston Harbor Formed MOP a 501c-3 Foley Hoag took us on as a pro-bono client. Met with Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Heard their concerns Gave them a proposal Identified a source of oysters Began raising money--- This was the hardest part. Worked with Boston Conservation Commission

Began pitching people on the idea of restoring oysters to Boston Harbor

Formed MOP a 501c-3

Foley Hoag took us on as a pro-bono client.

Met with Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

Heard their concerns

Gave them a proposal

Identified a source of oysters

Began raising money--- This was the hardest part.

Worked with Boston Conservation Commission

Oysters are good for Biodiversity. Over 200 other species live in a reef. Hard substrate Place to lay eggs Anchor for aquatic plants Vertical structure for shelter Small fish Grass shrimp Food Water quality regulation

Oysters are good for Biodiversity. Over 200 other species live in a reef.

Hard substrate

Place to lay eggs

Anchor for aquatic plants

Vertical structure for shelter

Small fish

Grass shrimp

Food

Water quality regulation

2. Oysters can triple the number of Fish! Abstract Oyster-shell plantings were made on formerly productive bottom to determine the practicability of securing an oyster set in this area and to test the hypothesis that the availability of game fish could be improved by artificially modifying the habitat in Chincoteague Bay, Maryland. Fish populations were trapped over planted and unplanted control areas with the same effort from August to November in 1958 and 1959. Fourteen species of saltwater fish were recorded in the planted and control areas, of which the black sea bass, Centropristes striatus , was the dominant species. The planted areas yielded about three times as many fish as the controls during the two years. Black sea bass numbers were much greater on planted areas than on control areas . The planted area also produced more species than the unplanted area. More fish were caught over both planted and control bottoms during 1959 than in 1958, due partially to improved trap design. There is some evidence of improvement in the availability of fish over a planted area that has aged for a year. It is concluded that oyster-shell plantings significantly concentrated and increased numbers of fish over restricted areas, when compared to unplanted areas.

Abstract Oyster-shell plantings were made on formerly productive bottom to determine the practicability of securing an oyster set in this area and to test the hypothesis that the availability of game fish could be improved by artificially modifying the habitat in Chincoteague Bay, Maryland. Fish populations were trapped over planted and unplanted control areas with the same effort from August to November in 1958 and 1959. Fourteen species of saltwater fish were recorded in the planted and control areas, of which the black sea bass, Centropristes striatus , was the dominant species.

The planted areas yielded about three times as many fish as the controls during the two years. Black sea bass numbers were much greater on planted areas than on control areas . The planted area also produced more species than the unplanted area.

More fish were caught over both planted and control bottoms during 1959 than in 1958, due partially to improved trap design. There is some evidence of improvement in the availability of fish over a planted area that has aged for a year. It is concluded that oyster-shell plantings significantly concentrated and increased numbers of fish over restricted areas, when compared to unplanted areas.

3. Oysters can help improve water quality. Water clarity has improved dramatically and is improving thanks to Boston Water and Sewer & MWRA projects. But there still is waste entering the harbor through Combined Sewer Outflows (CSOs) When there is a heavy rain, the water volume exceeds the capacity of pipes to treatment facilities. Thus domestic sewage and storm water may be diverted to the CSOs and into the harbor. This waste can raise nitrogen levels and contribute to algae blooms. There also will be an ongoing problem with contamination from surface run-off. Downstream this can lead to beach closings in addition to poor water quality. Treating wastewater can only do so much.

Water clarity has improved dramatically and is improving thanks to Boston Water and Sewer & MWRA projects.

But there still is waste entering the harbor through Combined Sewer Outflows (CSOs)

When there is a heavy rain, the water volume exceeds the capacity of pipes to treatment facilities.

Thus domestic sewage and storm water may be diverted to the CSOs and into the harbor.

This waste can raise nitrogen levels and contribute to algae blooms.

There also will be an ongoing problem with contamination from surface run-off.

Downstream this can lead to beach closings in addition to poor water quality.

There still is considerable CSO flow entering the harbor. Source: MWRA Recommended CSO Control Plan and Report 2005

Oysters may be able to help reduce Boston beach postings. Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Environmental Health Environmental Toxicology Program Marine and FreshwaterBeach Testing in Massachusetts Annual Report2006 Season

Plan 2008 2008 Phase I Pilot- Identified site on Charles River Obtain approval Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Obtain blessing of Boston Conservation Commission Raise $12,000 Dispersal Fall 2008 100,000 seed oysters 150,000 seed oysters 50,000 more than plan 200 hundred adults- place with May check up Establish test population Monitor growth DONE

2008 Phase I Pilot-

Identified site on Charles River

Obtain approval Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

Obtain blessing of Boston Conservation Commission

Raise $12,000

Dispersal Fall 2008

100,000 seed oysters

150,000 seed oysters 50,000 more than plan

200 hundred adults- place with May check up

Establish test population

Monitor growth

Plan 2008 This location is out of the main current. The water is of lower salinity. There is a pedestrian walkway that may lend itself to eventual educational markers This area is below combined sewer outflows so the oysters cannot be harvested for food. There is no easy access for poaching harvesting. The bottom is loose gravel and stone. Disperse Oysters Here Direction of Current DONE

This location is out of the main current.

The water is of lower salinity.

There is a pedestrian walkway that may lend itself to eventual educational markers

This area is below combined sewer outflows so the oysters cannot be harvested for food.

There is no easy access for poaching harvesting.

The bottom is loose gravel and stone.

Placement Event Media Coverage TV- Channel 4, 5, and 7 Radio NPR- WBUR Print

TV- Channel 4, 5, and 7

Radio NPR- WBUR

Print

Placement Event Media Coverage

MOP Web-site Activity We are now getting 20 hits a day!

Placement Follow up There Alive! 6 months later 50% survival In line with commercial growers survival rates A bit more silt than we would like Harbor surprisingly vital Mussels, crabs, lobsters and starfish Fish

There Alive!

6 months later 50% survival

In line with commercial growers survival rates

A bit more silt than we would like

Harbor surprisingly vital

Mussels, crabs, lobsters and starfish

Fish

Proposed Plan 2009 Monitor success or failure of Charles pilot Let them grow Track reproduction Establish a second population

Monitor success or failure of Charles pilot

Let them grow

Track reproduction

Establish a second population

Phase II After proving out pilot success seek broad dissemination Fort Point Channel 2010 Mystic estuary- Amelia Earhart dam 2011 Boston Harbor Islands 2011 Thompson and Snake Islands UMass Boston 2010 Learn more Reproduction Raising oysters to reduce cost

After proving out pilot success seek broad dissemination

Fort Point Channel 2010

Mystic estuary- Amelia Earhart dam 2011

Boston Harbor Islands 2011

Thompson and Snake Islands

UMass Boston 2010

Learn more

Reproduction

Raising oysters to reduce cost

Key Learnings Dive the site Measure everything salinity, temperature Ensure the bottom is hard- avoid loose silt and muck. Use caged populations for monitoring tie them off well. The idea is popular. Involving an academic angle can help land grants. These programs take time.

Dive the site

Measure everything salinity, temperature

Ensure the bottom is hard- avoid loose silt and muck.

Use caged populations for monitoring tie them off well.

The idea is popular.

Involving an academic angle can help land grants.

These programs take time.

Open Questions Will the oysters reproduce? 2009 2010 Do we have critical mass of oysters? Is 75,000 enough? Where should we make our next placement? In the same area to aid reproduction? In another area to provide a second site for learning? If oysters have not been present for so long, will there be pathogens and predators such as MSX, dermo and oyster drills? How many oysters will we need to begin to make a measurable impact on the overall harbor? How do we raise the money? To donate please visit www.massoyster.org

Will the oysters reproduce? 2009 2010

Do we have critical mass of oysters?

Is 75,000 enough?

Where should we make our next placement?

In the same area to aid reproduction?

In another area to provide a second site for learning?

If oysters have not been present for so long, will there be pathogens and predators such as MSX, dermo and oyster drills?

How many oysters will we need to begin to make a measurable impact on the overall harbor?

How do we raise the money?

To donate please visit www.massoyster.org

Questions Every day we are filtering 2.2 million gallons of harbor water!