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Oyster Domes and Bars

Why build oyster domes?
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Reef Balls®, a.k.a "oyster domes" help replace oyster habitat in areas where it has been lost. Oyster domes were originally designed to rebuild coral reefs all over the world. Tampa Bay Watch's oyster domes are placed along seawalls and shorelines to restore hard bottom habitat, improve water quality or reduce shoreline erosion.

Oyster domes:

  • Reduce erosion - Domes weaken strong waves that cause erosion. When a wave hits the dome, most of its "energy" goes in the sides of the domes and comes out the top, like a volcano eruption.

  • Provide habitat - The holes provide smaller species of fish and crabs a hiding place from larger fish and birds. The domes help make it possible for small fish to live long enough to become the big fish we like to catch!

  • Encourage oyster growth - Oysters need to attach to a hard structure to grow into adults. The rough texture of the domes makes it easier for oysters to grow on them.

 

What’s that mean?
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EROSION:
When soil or sand is washed away from land by wind or waves

How are the domes created?
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Marine friendly concrete is poured into a fiberglass mold containing a large round buoy surrounded by smaller rubber balls, creating the holes in the oyster domes. Microsilica
is mixed with the concrete to balance the pH so oysters are attracted to the domes.

Did you know?

  • Oysters are natural filters, cleaning up to 10 gallons of water per hour. More oysters mean a cleaner bay.

  • Oysters are a food source for birds, fish (such as sheepshead) and other wildlife.

  • A multitude of smaller fish, crabs, shrimp and other critters live among the oysters and provide food for the larger fish and wildlife.

  • Oyster dome habitats are great places to catch fish.

oyster growth

dome placement
second placement

dome habitat

Tampa Bay Watch installs about
300 domes each year in at least
two large scale projects.

What’s that mean?
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The domes are created with help from students and teachers
from bay area schools, community associations and
volunteers. Tampa Bay Watch has a mobile trailer that
brings this program to local schools and project sites.
Dome building takes place when oysters are spawning
(making babies), usually in late winter through the spring.
Talk to the Tampa Bay Watch scientists to find out how you
can be a part of this program.

 

What is the Oyster Reef Program?
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Tampa Bay Watch’s Community Oyster Reef Enhancement (CORE) program creates oyster shell reefs similar to natural oyster communities found along the shoreline of Tampa Bay. The reefs improve water quality, restore hard bottom and
provide habitat.

How an oyster becomes a bar
step1
step2
step 3 and 4

How do you decide where to build the reefs?

An important step in any restoration process, Tampa Bay Watch works closely with governmental agencies and other environmental organizations to identify sites that need improved habitat and erosion control.

What’s that mean?

OYSTER SPAT: Oyster larvae, baby oysters that are free-floating and need to attach to a solid surface to begin growing into an adult

For more information contact Kendall Sanderson @
ksanderson@tampabaywatch.org

bed 1
bed 2

 

* Note: Description and Photos Obtained from Tampa Bay Watch

Inter Krewe Council
Not all who wander are lost.
-- Tolkien

 

To make donations to help the Florida Oceans and Wildlife please click on the link to paypal donation page.

 

New Events

  • Let's Unmoth Ball the Submarine and Paint the Squid
    Let's Unmoth Ball the Submarine and Paint the Squid
    Date: Saturday, December 13th, 2008
    Time: 9:00am-12:00pm


  • 2009 Sant Yago Illuminated Knight Parade
    2009 Sant Yago Illuminated Knight Parade
    Date: Saturday, February 14th, 2009
    Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm


  • 2009 Gasparilla Adult Parade
    2009 Gasparilla Adult Parade
    Date: Saturday, Februrary 7th, 2009
    Time: 1:45pm-5:00pm



  • Florida - Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Florida Issued by the National Weather Service
    Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Florida Issued by the National Weather Service
  • Red Flag Warning - Inland Escambia (Florida)
    RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2008-12-01T10:25:00 Expired At: 2008-12-01T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/

  • Red Flag Warning - Coastal Escambia (Florida)
    RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2008-12-01T10:25:00 Expired At: 2008-12-01T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/

  • Red Flag Warning - Inland Santa Rosa (Florida)
    RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2008-12-01T10:25:00 Expired At: 2008-12-01T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/

  • Red Flag Warning - Coastal Santa Rosa (Florida)
    RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2008-12-01T10:25:00 Expired At: 2008-12-01T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/

  • Red Flag Warning - Inland Okaloosa (Florida)
    RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2008-12-01T10:25:00 Expired At: 2008-12-01T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/


    Last Refreshed 12/1/2008 11:13:30 AM

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    The Krewe of the Nautilus is a federally approved 501(c)(3) organization.