Pilot Oyster Restoration Data Dorchester, Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Oyster Project For Clean Water Restoring oysters to their natural range to improve harbor water quality 2010 Oyster Growth Data Dorchester Yacht Club Malibu Bay Boston, MA

Our Goal
Re-establish protected oyster reef populations in the waters of Boston Harbor 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.

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

Oysters in Malibu Bay Dorchester
Oysters were placed on November 26 th 2009 under the auspices of a scientific permit from Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
The oysters were split into two groups. Each group was suspended off of a dock in two stacked milk crates.
The milk crates were checked periodically and the oysters were measured.
Two sets of oysters were placed.
One was lost during dock construction.
The second was lost temporarily but recovered
Key lesson on placement- choose discrete permanent location.
Oysters removed on October 1, 2010 per the request of DMF.

Boston Harbor Map Dorchester Yacht Club In Malibu Bay The bay has full, 12 foot tidal swings and a muddy bottom. The edges contain sandy beach, mudflats, wetland grass and stony areas.

A special “Thank you” to Al and the membership of Dorchester Yacht Club. They are very interested in improving the Harbor and delightful to terrific to work with.

Oyster Size

Oyster Size Normalized Histograms

Length Standard Deviation We physically lost some oysters here, which may have narrowed the sample. It seemed like the oysters had a target length for entering the second winter ~75 mm

Normalized Size Histogram

Oyster Weight in Pounds

Water Temperature Data

Conclusions
Oysters can survive in Dorchester’s Malibu Bay in a caged environment.
Oysters can grow at a healthy pace in Dorchester’s Malibu Bay while suspended in the Water Column.
We saw no sign of reproduction. However, we were not anticipating it. Further study would be required to confirm that reproduction is possible in this environment. However, the impressive growth may inidicate favorable conditions.
Given that oysters once were prevalent throughout Boston Harbor and that there are significant environmental benefits from their presence, further research and restoration efforts on this topic may be warranted.

Pilot Oyster Restoration Data Dorchester, Massachusetts

by Massachusetts Oyster Project for Clean Water

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