Why is the oyster population in the estuaries so low right now? What causes oyster populations to decline?
The oyster population in the estuaries has been negatively impacted by the lack of available substrate (hard surfaces for the oysters to attach to and grow). Erosion, runoff, and freshwater releases have resulted in layers of muck that have covered over historical oyster beds making them unsuitable for oyster colonization. The creation of new reefs will provide greater surface area for oyster colonization.
