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CNN visited Tampa Bay Watch in Tierra Verde in December to interview Peter Clark, executive director, regarding the value of oyster dome projects. Oyster domes help replace oyster habitat in areas where it has been lost. Oyster domes were originally designed to rebuild coral reefs all over the world. Tampa Bay Watch builds and installs about 300 domes each year in at least two large scale projects with the valuable help of community volunteers. Oyster domes are placed along seawalls and shorelines to restore hard bottom habitat, improve water quality and/or reduce shoreline erosion.

Throughout December and January groups of volunteers assist Tampa Bay Watch by helping construct oyster domes. CNN filmed volunteers on site building oyster domes and the installation of domes under Tampa Bay Watch’s dock with the assistance of Reef Innovations. Oyster domes are built by pouring marine friendly concrete into a fiberglass mold containing a large round buoy surrounded by smaller rubber balls, creating the holes in the oyster domes.

Microsilica is mixed with the concrete to balance the pH so oysters are attracted to the domes. Dome building takes place when oysters are spawning, usually in late winter through the spring. Contact the Tampa Bay Watch scientists if you are interested in being a part of this program.

Tampa Bay Watch involves more than 10,000 youth and adult volunteers each year in hands on habitat restoration projects. For more information, contact Chris Sutton, Environmental Scientist by email at csutton@tampabaywatch.org