GEORGIA
Generating Enhanced Oyster Reefs in Georgia's Inshore Areas

The University of Georgia’s Marine Extension Service coordinates a community-based oyster restoration project called GEORGIA (Generating Enhanced Oyster Reefs in Georgia’s Inshore Areas). This program recycles oyster shell to create new oyster reefs, and enhances stewardship and public awareness of the importance of oyster reef habitat along the Georgia coast.

Public Service Announcements (YouTube)
Brunswick Savannah (Quick Time)

Intertidal oysters are described as “keystone” species as they play a critical role in maintaining a healthy coastal ecosystem. Georgia’s oyster populations were once immense, however overfishing, habitat degradation, and disease have considerably impacted these estuarine communities.

- Dense populations of oysters can significantly improving water clarity and quality by filtering algae and pollutants.

- Intertidal reefs provide hard substrate in the otherwise soft muddy substrates of Georgia’s estuaries for oyster larvae and other organisms to settle, attach to and grow.

- Intertidal reefs provide spawning, breeding, feeding and nursery habitat for many other commercial, recreational, and sport species that are ecologically important to the region.

- Georgia has approximately one third of the remaining coastal salt marshes on the East Coast of the U.S. Intertidal oyster reefs protect these marshes against shoreline erosion by dissipating the energy caused by boat wakes and waves.

- Oysters are an important food source for humans and many other animals.

How Can You Get Involved?

Donate the Shell From Your Oyster Roasts: Are you planning a private oyster roast? Do you own a seafood restaurant that serves oysters? Donate your shell to the GEORGIA program. Call the Marine Extension Service and we will organize a shell collection. In Savannah call Daniel (912) 598 2348, in Brunswick call Casey (912) 264 7323. Alternatively, take the shell yourself and drop it off at one of our conveniently located recycling centers in Savannah, Brunswick, and on Jekyll Island.

Oyster Shell Bagging: On a monthly basis our volunteers meet at the shell centers and place the recycled shell into mesh bags that will be used to enhance future oyster reefs. Click here to find out the upcoming schedule.

Oyster Reef Building: Oyster reef building and enhancement takes place during the spring months as volunteers move the mesh bags of cured oyster shell to selected oyster reef sites. The shell inside the bags create the substrate for oysters and other organisms to attach and grow during the upcoming spawning season. Click here to view pictures from our most recent planting at Beach Creek on Jekyll Island.

Oyster Reef Monitoring: Volunteers are trained by the Marine Extension Service to conduct monitoring (water quality, biological community, oyster recruitment, growth and mortality) on a monthly basis at each of the restored sites.

Education Opportunities: The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service offers hands-on, inquiry-based education programs for students in grades five through twelve focusing on oyster reef communities and restoration efforts.

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following for supporting our restoration efforts: National Marine Fisheries Services Community-Based Restoration Program, Ocean Trust, and University of Georgia Marine Extension Service, Tybee Burton 4-H Center, Savannah Presbytery, South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement Project, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Uncle Bubbas Oyster House, the Saltwater Grill, the Oyster Bar, the Environmental Protection Division, the Jekyll Island Authority, Five Star, Tidelands Nature Center, Jekyll 4 H Center, CDR Environmental Specialists, Georgia Power, Honeywell, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.