Reef Revival: Counting on Oysters for a Healthier Bay
Through a NOAA Transformational Habitat Grant awarded in 2022, RAE assembled five organizations throughout the Gulf to form the Gulf Regional Oyster Project – Galveston Bay Foundation, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Alabama Coastal Foundation, Pensacola and Perdido Bay Estuary Program, and Tampa Bay Watch. Together, these groups work to restore the near-shore habitats that keep their communities thriving, safe, healthy, and most importantly, stocked with delicious local oysters!
Hilary Stevens, Coastal Resilience Senior Manager at Restore America’s Estuaries, recently traveled to Texas to join Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) in monitoring oyster restoration efforts at Dickinson Bay Reef. She joined the GBF team to observe, participate, and learn more about the role of consultants and the long-term process of reef restoration. Together with the GBF team, they counted and measured over 700 oysters.
Even more encouraging, Hilary shared that after a challenging summer in 2024, when excessive rainfall and low salinity stressed the oyster population, the reef is recovering well. With the return of warmer spring temperatures and improved water conditions, oysters are once again actively reproducing and showing healthy growth.
Thanks to GBF’s earlier restoration work, including shell introduction projects dating back to 2018, the reefs continue to thrive. These long-term results
highlight the importance of sustained investment in oyster restoration, and people are taking note. GBF was profiled by Houston Life in a two-part feature (Part 1,Part 2) about the project and its impact on local businesses, restaurants, and people who enjoy the Bay! Tom Tollett, owner of Tommy’s Restaurant Oyster Bar in Clear Lake, spoke to Houston Life about the benefits for restaurants to recycle their oysters saying, “It couldn’t be any simpler. And what do they get in return? They get oysters because we can perpetuate our oyster supply.”
He shared that as a restaurant owner, it made sense for him to buy local oysters and keep dollars in the local economy. “We have the greatest oysters. They have a great flavor. Our bays are cleaner because of them so there are multiple reasons why we should,” said Tom.
Oysters provide critical ecological benefits:
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They filter and clean water by removing pollutants
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Offer essential habitat for fish, crabs, and other marine life
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Stabilize shorelines and reduce erosion
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Support nutrient cycling and overall estuary health
Regular monitoring of restoration sites like Dickinson Bay Reef is vital. It requires time, specialized equipment, and experienced teams. Restore America’s Estuaries is proud to support and learn from our partners in the field, and we remain committed to advancing this important work.
