The Oyster Mat Project

After hearing a description of what the Vero Beach Power Squadron is doing to hopefully help to improve the water quality of the Indian River Lagoon, I volunteered to work on oyster mats.  While the quality of water has been getting worse gradually, apparently there was an algae bloom about two years ago that killed a lot of sea grass by cutting off sunlight to the grass.  With no sea grass, the native fish, birds, manatees, etc. are disappearing.  The Rotary Club and the squadron are partnering in an effort to create oyster beds, since oysters are a natural filtering system.  The plan is to make 1100 mats that will be placed in the water in the Mooring flats near the end of March, just prior to the spawning season.  The hope is that the oyster spat (eggs) will land on the oyster shells on the mats instead of being swept downstream or eaten by other creatures.  Each mat is a plastic-coated wire square of about 18"x 18" to which 36 half oyster shells are attached with wire ties.  The shells need to be tightly fastened so they stand up.

 The idea is that  up to 8 people work for three hours (9 a.m. to noon) making mats each weekday, while two others drill holes in oyster half shells. 

The first time I worked (Toby calls it the sweat shop!), it was so cold that we had to move the tables outside.  Normally we are on the screened-in porch.  Week #1 I managed to get 2 mats done.  The next week I did 3.  The third week I did 4 of my own and finished 1 that someone else had started.  I was determined to make them more quickly, after hearing that Kathie Thomas was able to do 5!!!  Last week I did 4 and could have started a 5th, but was told that we should knock off for the day.  This week they cancelled the session because the drill press wasn't working and there were not enough shells available for the mats.  It really feels like I'm doing something good for the environment and the squadron, plus it keeps me busy.

Here is a link to an article from the local newspaper:    Oyster Project
Another article:Oyster Project once more

The last week I made mats, I managed to do 5 easily.  After 6 weeks of actually making mats, Toby asked me to spend the last morning cutting mats, so that the local students they are going to involve in the project would have materials on Saturday, March 15.  The idea is to get students interested in saving the lagoon and to give them a way to do community service.

Cutting the mats!

The mats are being laid in the Mooring Flats on the last 2 Saturdays in March and the first in April.