Brevard Zoo Oyster Gardening Program Doubles Its Efforts
By Space Coast Daily // July 31, 2014
will improve Indian River Lagoon Water quality
ABOVE VIDEO: Michelle Peters-Snyder, Oyster Restoration Coordinator for the Indian River Lagoon Program run by The Nature Conservancy, provides details of the Oyster Reef Restoration Project.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Brevard Zoo, in partnership with the Brevard County Natural Resources Department, will double the size of its Oyster Gardening volunteer program by the end of the year.
The Oyster Gardening program, funded by the Brevard County Commissioners, is part of the larger Brevard Oyster Restoration project, available only to residents with direct waterfront access on the Indian River Lagoon.
The program teaches participants to use the filter-feeding power of native oysters as a means of cleaning up local waterways.
Volunteer oyster gardeners use special habitats suspended from their docks to grow oysters that will be used in future oyster reef restoration projects in Brevard County.
There are currently about 500 active Oyster Gardening volunteers, but the program is preparing to expand into a second phase that will train an additional 500 waterfront residents over the coming months.
To get involved, qualified individuals must attend an educational workshop, where supplies and training will be provided.
UPCOMING OYSTER GARDENING WORKSHOPS:
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
