With the help of a few dedicated volunteers, the Wanchese staff recently spent some time monitoring the office’s three reefs located in Shallowbag Bay, near Broad Creek and in the southern Wanchese marsh area. Check out the photos below to see what they found.

Erin Fleckenstein, coastal scientist and manager at the Wanchese office, and Bill Smyth, volunteer and northeast advisory board member, look for new oyster recruitment on an upcycled crab pot coated with concrete.

 

Paul Kutsko, a federation volunteer and 2016 Pelican Award recipient, measures year-old oyster recruits on a recycled shell.

 

Young oysters growing on top of a recycled shell.

 

Fleckenstein and Smyth enjoy a day outside with the marked reef in the background.