Concrete used for oyster restoration

GLOUCESTER, Va. (WAVY) - For the first time ever in Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is holding an "oyster reef ball" constructing event as a new part of its native oyster restoration program.

Fishery Scientist Tommy Leggett moves a reef ball outside the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The domed-shaped structures are made of concrete and will soon be placed on river bottoms at various locations near the Chesapeake Bay.

"It's good for fish habitats, shoreline stabilization and it's used world-wide," he said.

And now the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is using them in Virginia as part of its native oyster restoration program. The reef balls will essentially serve as nurseries for oyster larvae.

"These reef balls can be set up in tanks and have larvae introduced into the tanks and the larvae settle all over the reef ball," said Leggett

In the natural world, oyster larvae attach themselves to other oysters or oyster shells, but with a declining oyster population they're really aren't that many of these shells out there anymore.

But studies show the concrete reef balls are providing what is called an alternative substrate for the baby oysters to grow on.

"And the nice thing about this is, you're creating an instant oyster reef and setting it in the water to grow," Leggett said.

Helping the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to construct the reef balls this day are a group of volunteers from the aircraft carrier, USS Truman.

"It feels good to lend a helping hand," said one volunteer. "Help preserve the oyster."

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation depends on these volunteers almost as much as the future of the oysters depends on the efforts of the Foundation.

"I think we are making a difference," said Laura Engelund with Reef Ball Tech. "We were surveying the Lafayette River just over the past month and we're finding oysters where we did not think we would find them."

Oysters that are vital to the future health of the bay and other marine life.