The Use of Non-Plastic Materials for Oyster Reef and Shoreline Restoration: Understanding What Is Needed and Where the Field Is Headed

Linda J. Walters, Annie Roddenberry, Chelsey Crandall, Jessy Wayles, Melinda Donnelly, Savanna C. Barry, Mark W. Clark, Olivia Escandell, Jennifer C. Hansen, Katie Laakkonen and Paul E. Sacks
Additional contact information
Linda J. Walters: Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816, USA
Annie Roddenberry: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32301, USA
Chelsey Crandall: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32301, USA
Jessy Wayles: Marine Discovery Center, 520 Barracuda Blvd., New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169, USA
Melinda Donnelly: Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816, USA
Savanna C. Barry: Florida Sea Grant, Nature Coast Biological Station, 552 1st Street, Cedar Key, FL 32625, USA
Mark W. Clark: Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida, 2181 McCarty Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Olivia Escandell: Brevard Zoo, 8225 North Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32940, USA
Jennifer C. Hansen: Brevard County Natural Resources, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Melbourne, FL 32940, USA
Katie Laakkonen: Natural Resources Division, City of Naples, 295 Riverside Circle, Naples, FL 34102, USA
Paul E. Sacks: Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816, USA

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 13, 1-21

Abstract: Oyster and shoreline restoration is occurring around the globe to recover lost ecosystem services. In the state of Florida, USA, dozens of estuarine habitat restoration projects are underway. These projects have traditionally relied on both natural and man-made materials, including plastics. As the impacts of plastics on marine ecosystems are better understood, practitioners are increasingly focused on plastic-free restoration. To better understand this transition, we surveyed Florida restoration practitioners in April 2021 to capture current non-plastic restoration project trends and their status. Our descriptive survey goals were to understand: (1) what non-plastic materials have been tested, (2) trade-offs between plastic and non-plastic materials (e.g., cost, sourcing, volunteer engagement), and (3) the performance of non-plastic materials. Responses indicated that a variety of non-plastic materials are currently being used, including rock, cement-infused jute structures, cement Reef Balls™ (Reef Ball Foundation, USA), BESE-elements ® , and metal gabions. Overall, these materials are more expensive and equally or more difficult to install than previously popular plastic-based materials. No “best” non-plastic material emerged from our survey in part because many novel materials have been deployed for under three years. Long-term performance under a variety of abiotic and biotic conditions is thus a future research priority.

Keywords: living shoreline; Crassostrea virginica; coastal restoration; Indian River Lagoon; Naples Bay; Cedar Key; gabions; BESE-elements ®; oyster prism; Reef Ball™ (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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