In a Palmetto warehouse, volunteers armed with a cement mixer, a stack of old rags, and a few wooden spacers are building the foundation of Tampa Bay’s next oyster reef.
Oyster River Ecology volunteers gather every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday to make “rag pots.” The process is simple by design. Rags go into the mixer, get coated in cement, and are shaped around a small wooden spacer that holds the pot open and maximizes surface area. After curing for 24 to 48 hours, the pots are ready for the water. Oysters need something hard to cling to, and the pots give them exactly that.
Ecological Projects Coordinator Abbey Kuhn said the group designed the system with cost and scalability in mind, so it can take on large projects instead of small ones.
Executive Director Damon Moore, who developed the concept, said oyster reefs have declined by 85% over the past century, largely because of overharvesting. The loss hurts fisheries, biodiversity, and water quality, since oysters filter algae, sediment, and organic matter from the water.
The group’s first project was in the Manatee River. Moore showed a pot pulled after 10 months, already crusted with oysters. At about a year, he said, growth on pots placed one foot apart merges into a single reef.
The next target is Safety Harbor in Pinellas County, where Moore cited water quality problems. The organization has a permit to place 200,000 rag pots across five acres. The first installation is set for Nov. 14, when 5,000 pots will go into the water. The full project could take several years, depending on funding.
The group’s stated goal is reefs that eventually sustain themselves, with no maintenance needed for decades. Moore said the organization pays for rent, trucks, trailers, and salaries, and credited community support for keeping it going. About 1,100 volunteers have helped this year.
Donations and volunteer sign-ups are available at oysterriverecology.org.
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