In some locations the oyster strands are hung with poly-rope (below right); city staffers hung the ones in Boca Raton’s Rutherford Park (above) on stainless steel cables that can provide longer lifespans. Photos provided
The fishing pier at Rutherford Park is now home to the city’s first “vertical oyster garden.”
City staff installed 25 strands of recycled oyster shells under the park’s pier on the Intracoastal Waterway in May. The strands, which were assembled by volunteers at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, provide a surface for oyster larvae to attach and grow, creating living reefs that support fish, crabs, shrimp and other marine life, the city said.
Oysters are powerful natural filters, with a single adult capable of filtering up to 50 gallons of water per day, the city said. As oyster populations grow, they improve water clarity, reduce excess nutrients and support seagrass growth.
The West Palm Beach Fishing Club partnered with restaurants to collect and recycle the oyster shells. The shells were drilled, strung on stainless steel cables and assembled into vertical gardens at Gumbo Limbo in April. Their weights were recorded to help track oyster growth and habitat development over time.
The project supports the city’s goals of improving water quality, restoring marine habitat, enhancing coastal resilience and engaging the community in environmental stewardship, the city said.
— Steve Plunkett
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