PALMETTO, Fla. — Palmetto’s oyster restoration project is showing new growth in the Manatee River, where scientists are tracking reef development each month to measure its potential effect on water quality and marine habitat.
The Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency’s oyster restoration project included the installation of 380 reef balls in 76 clusters across a 23-acre habitat in the river. Since 2024, aquatic biologist Ernesto Lasso de la Vega and his team have been monitoring the reefs.
“The oysters are doing phenomenally,” Lasso de la Vega said. “There are thousands, tens of thousands, in one cluster. And I tell you, that is only one reef ball, one cluster. We have 76 clusters. So this is a powerful filtration machine.”
Lasso de la Vega said the team is checking whether baby oysters, called spat, are forming on the reef balls. During monitoring dives, he documents oyster growth with photos and video and records the different sizes of oysters found underwater.
“This is one of the reef balls, and I am collecting all the information,” Lasso de la Vega said. “I want to show the pictures and video of the different sizes of oysters that you can find down there.”
The CRA said the oysters in the project area could potentially clean up to the equivalent of 726 Olympic swimming pools of water each day.
“There is a lot of bacteria in these waters,” Lasso de la Vega said. “In fact, Enterococcus is a serious concern. The oysters filter the water and help hold that bacteria.”
The project is designed to improve water quality, restore marine habitat, and support the overall health of the Manatee River. Monitoring so far shows oysters have successfully colonized the reef balls, which now also support fish, crabs, shrimp, mussels, barnacles, and other marine life.
During one monitoring trip, Lasso de la Vega also identified an Asian green mussel, which he described as invasive.
“It is an exotic Asian mussel, which is in the same group as oysters,” Lasso de la Vega said. “These have two valves, and they filter the water, just like oysters do.”
Jake Bibler, assistant director of the Community Redevelopment Agency, said the project is one step toward improving conditions in the river.
“This is a great project to help revitalize the marine life in the river and improve the water quality,” Bibler said. “As you know, the water quality has not always been great in the river. This is one of those small steps we can take where oysters can help clean and filter the water.”
The Palmetto CRA said the project is funded through local investment and a $625,000 state matching grant from 2024. The grant pays for five years of biological and water quality monitoring.
Officials said the long-term data could help guide future oyster restoration projects across Florida.
Julia Hazel
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