Our oyster spat-on-shell nursery raft at Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, UNH, Durham
Our Partners in Oyster Reef Restoration
Most US states along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts have some form of program aimed at restoring populations of the native eastern oyster. The states differ substantially in their approaches to oyster restoration, however, because of differences in historical and current management frameworks, harvest practices, and the condition of their oyster populations. For example, some states that are strongly influenced by the interests of the commercial oyster industry mainly focus on restoration of oyster populations that can be harvested. Almost in contrast, many of our restoration projects in New Hampshire—which only permits recreational harvesting of wild oysters—have been more concerned with their ecological importance. New Hampshire has a rapidly growing oyster aquaculture industry built on the grow-out of “seed” oysters obtained from hatcheries, but our natural (wild) populations can only be harvested (from approved waters) for personal consumption. Thus, our restoration projects over the years have occurred in areas approved for recreational harvest as well as areas where human harvest is prohibited. In large measure because of our dual focus on oysters as a food resource as well as an ecologically important species, oyster restoration in New Hampshire involves a wide variety of partners. Our work obviously depends on funding agencies, but many others as well. The following have partnered with us in the overall goal of restoring oyster populations in New Hampshire
Collaborators
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Kara Radabaugh, Ph.D., Research Scientist
Coastal Wetlands Research Fish and Wildlife Research Institute St. Petersburg, FL |
David Burdick: Research Associate Professor
School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering Marine Wetland and Ecology Restoration The University of New Hampshire, Durham |
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Steve Jones: Research Associate Professor
Natural Resources and Marine Science Assistant director for research of the NH Sea Grant College Program The University of New Hampshire, Durham |
David Berlinsky: Professor of Biological Sciences
School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering Finfish Reproductive Processes, Aquaculture The University of New Hampshire, Durham |
Gregg Moore: Associate Research Professor
School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering Saltmarsh & Mangrove restoration ecology & Mgmt. The University of New Hampshire, Durham |
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Jim Lodge: Senior Scientist
Oyster Reef Restoration Hudson River Foundation New York, NY www.hudsonriver.org/ |
Brianna Group: Great Bay Program Manager
The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire Newmarket, & Concord, NH [email protected] |
Suzanne Bricker: Physical Scientist
Manager of NOAA’s National Estuarine Eutrophication Assessment National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NOS) |
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Jim Irish: Research Professor Center for Coastal & Ocean
Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center
Jere A. Chase Ocean Engineering Lab Durham, New Hampshire 03824 |
John Burt: Associate Professor, Biology
Coral Reef Ecology NYU Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
Rashid Alshihi: Oceanographic Specialist
Ministry of Environment and Water Umm Al Quwain Marine Research Center United Arab Emirates |
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Monica Bricelj: Research Professor
Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey |
Don Anderson: Senior Scientist, Biology
Director of the Cooperative Institute of the North Atlantic Region (CINAR) Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woods Hole, MA 02543-1050 |
David Fredriksson: Associate Professor
Department of Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering, US Naval Academy Annapolis, MD |
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Chester Zarnoch: Assistant Professor
Environmental Studies Department of natural Science Baruch College City University of New York, New York, NY |
Eric Milbrandt: Research Scientist
Mangrove Ecosystems Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) Florida Gulf Coast University Sanibel, Florida http://sccf.org/our-work/marine-laboratory sccf.org/our-work/marine-laboratory |
Loren Coen: Affiliate Scientist
Marine and Benthic Ecology Harbor Branch, Florida Atlantic University Fort Pierce, FL http://www.oyster-restoration.org/ |
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Bill Pine: Assistant Professor
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611-0430 |
James E. (Jeb) Byers: Professor
Biological invasions; marine population and community ecology, conservation biology; parasite ecology Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia Athens, GA |
Timothy Hollein: Assistant Porfessor
Aquatic Ecologist Loyola University Chicago Chicago , IL 60660 |
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Funding Agencies & Partners
US Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
The New Hampshire NRCS office has since 2009 offered grants that support the involvement of oyster farmers in the restoration of oyster reefs. This program has become the major source of funds for oyster restoration work in the state, and has resulted in important mutually beneficial relationships between oyster farmers and those involved in restoration of wild populations.
Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP)
PREP, which is administered by the University of New Hampshire, is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program, which is a joint local/state/federal program established under the Clean Water Act with the goal of protecting and enhancing nationally significant estuarine resources. PREP has been a major supporter of our efforts, as well as a leader in managing New Hampshire’s oyster populations in the context of broader environmental concerns (see below).
US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA’s Community-Based program is a collaborative effort with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). They have supported several of our projects over the years, and are perhaps the most important funding source nationally for coastal restoration projects that involve local citizens.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
The New Hampshire chapter of TNC has been our most important collaborator since 2009. We have worked together on several full-scale projects, as well as maintaining our Oyster Conservationist program which was started in 2006.
Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR)
Most of our restoration projects have been conducted within the boundaries of GBNERR, and several have been supported by their Graduate Student Fellowship program.
New Hampshire Sea Grant
Sea Grant has supported our research on new ways to map oyster reefs involving towed underwater videography and sonar, as well as the ecological importance of oyster reefs.
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
The Foundation was instrumental in initiating our ongoing Oyster Conservationist and oyster shell recycling programs.
New Hampshire Coastal Program
The Coastal Program has supported several of our oyster restoration projects, focusing mainly on those projects involving local citizens and schools.
Muscongus Bay Aquaculture
Tonie Simmons is the owner of this Bremen, Maine based hatchery and oyster farm. She has provided most of the oyster larvae used in our remote setting process since the mid-2000s. Tonie produces a quality product that typically results in high remote setting success and spat survival.
Management and Regulatory Agencies
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services are the lead regulatory agencies for restoration permitting. Various federal agencies such as the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also comment on restoration permit applications submitted to the state agencies.
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHF&G)
F&G issues Scientific (for reef construction) and Importation of Wildlife (for importing oyster larvae) permits. Additionally, the Department also conducts an annual assessment of oyster populations on the major natural reefs.
Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP)
In addition to funding major restoration projects, PREP also sets restoration goals in collaboration with other management agencies and stakeholders. PREP also provides biennial assessments of the state’s coastal waters and resources, including oyster populations 2013 State of our Estuaries Report.
US Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
The New Hampshire NRCS office has since 2009 offered grants that support the involvement of oyster farmers in the restoration of oyster reefs. This program has become the major source of funds for oyster restoration work in the state, and has resulted in important mutually beneficial relationships between oyster farmers and those involved in restoration of wild populations.
Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP)
PREP, which is administered by the University of New Hampshire, is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program, which is a joint local/state/federal program established under the Clean Water Act with the goal of protecting and enhancing nationally significant estuarine resources. PREP has been a major supporter of our efforts, as well as a leader in managing New Hampshire’s oyster populations in the context of broader environmental concerns (see below).
US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA’s Community-Based program is a collaborative effort with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). They have supported several of our projects over the years, and are perhaps the most important funding source nationally for coastal restoration projects that involve local citizens.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
The New Hampshire chapter of TNC has been our most important collaborator since 2009. We have worked together on several full-scale projects, as well as maintaining our Oyster Conservationist program which was started in 2006.
Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR)
Most of our restoration projects have been conducted within the boundaries of GBNERR, and several have been supported by their Graduate Student Fellowship program.
New Hampshire Sea Grant
Sea Grant has supported our research on new ways to map oyster reefs involving towed underwater videography and sonar, as well as the ecological importance of oyster reefs.
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
The Foundation was instrumental in initiating our ongoing Oyster Conservationist and oyster shell recycling programs.
New Hampshire Coastal Program
The Coastal Program has supported several of our oyster restoration projects, focusing mainly on those projects involving local citizens and schools.
Muscongus Bay Aquaculture
Tonie Simmons is the owner of this Bremen, Maine based hatchery and oyster farm. She has provided most of the oyster larvae used in our remote setting process since the mid-2000s. Tonie produces a quality product that typically results in high remote setting success and spat survival.
Management and Regulatory Agencies
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services are the lead regulatory agencies for restoration permitting. Various federal agencies such as the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also comment on restoration permit applications submitted to the state agencies.
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHF&G)
F&G issues Scientific (for reef construction) and Importation of Wildlife (for importing oyster larvae) permits. Additionally, the Department also conducts an annual assessment of oyster populations on the major natural reefs.
Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP)
In addition to funding major restoration projects, PREP also sets restoration goals in collaboration with other management agencies and stakeholders. PREP also provides biennial assessments of the state’s coastal waters and resources, including oyster populations 2013 State of our Estuaries Report.
