Online Houston Monthly Meeting: Galveston Bay Oyster Reef Restoration Efforts

August 24, 2021
Online Houston Monthly Meeting: Galveston Bay Oyster Reef Restoration Efforts
Zoom meeting, link access below 
Thursday, September  9, 7:30pm - 9:00pm
 
This meeting will be conducted using Zoom. Everyone is welcome.
7:15 - 7:30 pm: Time for log in, announcements, meet and greet.
Featured program presentation starts at 7:30 pm
Register in advance for this meeting:
Meeting Registration - Zoom
  
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
 
September 9 Program Topic: 
Galveston Bay Oyster Reef Restoration Efforts
 
On September 9, join Bill Rodney, Coastal Ecologist at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. Coastal Fisheries Division, as he discusses the Galveston Bay oyster reef restoration projects undertaken in recent years. The oyster reefs in the Bay are subject to a variety of stressors, and were greatly impacted by sediment deposits from Hurricane Ike, and then by massive freshwater inflows from Hurricane Harvey which decreased the salinity of the Bay. 
 
About oyster reefs:
Clusters of oyster shell, live oysters and other associated organisms form a distinct oyster reef habitat. The shells, cemented together, create an irregular surface that supports a myriad of micro­habitats for smaller species. Oyster reefs tend to form on hard substrate where sufficient current exists to transport planktonic food to the filter‑feeding oysters.  A large, healthy oyster population is able to filter large volumes of bay water, and can influence con­ditions such as water clarity and phytoplankton abundance. At the same time, oysters' propensity to bioaccumulate some pollutants, com­bined with their lack of mobility, make them an important indicator organism for determining the health of the estuary.
 
Oyster reefs are a significant ecological feature of Galveston Bay that have commercial importance. A large amount of oyster biomass is transferred from Galveston Bay every year by the oyster fishery. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) estimates that prior to Hurricane Ike, commercial landings of Eastern oysters from Galveston Bay represented 80 percent of the oysters harvested in Texas. The annual Galveston Bay oyster harvest totaled approximately 3 million pounds worth nearly $10 million. Because of their ecological and economic importance, oyster reefs are targeted for restoration and creation.
 
Hurricane Ike had a tremendous impact on oyster reef habitat in Galveston Bay. TPWD estimates that approximately 60 percent of the oyster reef habitat in Galveston Bay was covered by sediments as the storm surge moved through the bay in September 2008. Scientists do not know how long it will take for the reefs to recover. Until then, the commercial oyster harvest in Galveston Bay will be greatly reduced.
 
Public Health and Oyster Reefs:
Raw or partially cooked oysters can be a source of illness for people if the oysters are contaminated by pathogens. To protect public health, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) conducts monitoring of oyster waters for the National Shellfish Sanitation Program on a routine basis. Based on their monitoring data, the DSHS classifies areas of the bay for oyster harvesting.
 
A good summary document about Galveston Bay Oyster Reefs:
 
Here is is a great video about the ecology and ecosystem importance of oyster reefs:
Galveston Bay shellfish harvesting map:
 
 
 
Feel free to log in early, 7:15pm or so, if you are new to using Zoom, or have other questions.