3609 Hwy 24 (Ocean) | Newport, North Carolina 28570

MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2007

Tracy Skrabal, Senior Staff Scientist
910-790-3275 office; 910-213-6601 cell
tracys@nccoast.org

Oyster Reef Restoration – Myrtle Grove Sound, Wilmington

Wilmington, NC - On Wednesday, April 25, the North Carolina Coastal Federation (NCCF), in partnership with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), the N.C. Coastal Reserve Program, and Airlie Gardens, will create three acres of oyster reef habitat behind Masonboro Island near Wilmington.

When: Wednesday, April 25 at approximately 3:30. Please call NCCF in advance to reserve boat space and to determine the precise launch time.

What: Using NCDMF barges and power hoses, placing approximately 14,000 bushels of oyster shell into Myrtle Grove Sound behind Masonboro Island to create a new oyster reef.

Where: Media representatives can meet NCCF staff at the Wildlife Resources Commission boat ramp in Snows Cut for a high tide launch. Please call NCCF staff (Tracy Skrabal or Mike Giles) at 910-790-3275 if you plan to attend, if you need directions to the boat ramp at Snows Cut, to determine the precise launch time, and to reserve space on NCCF’s boat.

Who: NCCF, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, University of North Carolina Wilmington, the N.C. Coastal Reserve Program, and Airlie Gardens.

Background: Oysters are a vital component of fish habitat; they also represent an important commercial and recreational fishery in N.C.  Over 300 species of aquatic animals depend on the habitat and food provided by oyster reefs, including animals important to North Carolina’s commercial fisheries and seafood lovers, such as flounder, shrimp and crabs.

The presence of healthy oyster reefs is also linked to healthy water quality.  Oysters are capable of helping to clean out pollutants in N.C. estuaries by filtering up to 15-35 gallons of water per day.

The many benefits that oysters provide are in danger of disappearing. Oyster populations in N.C. and elsewhere have declined by an estimated 90% since the year 1900. Destruction of habitat, declining water quality, disease, and overharvesting are all factors affecting the national decline in oyster populations and oyster habitat.  Wednesday’s tour will highlight one effort will create new reef habitat and then seed it with hatchery- spawned native oysters.
 
Through funding from Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Community-based Restoration Program, NCCF is working with DMF barges to deploy approximately 14,000 bushels of oyster shells into the waters behind Masonboro Island. The oyster shell is being placed into mounds and then seeded with hatchery- spawned native oysters to create new oyster reefs.