Salt Strong Alliance’s Shoreline Restoration Project
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Conservation, Weekly Newsletter: 08-03-25
There’s something incredibly humbling about building oyster mats by hand…
Knowing that just one oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day—and that the mats being made could host thousands of them?
This pilot project—led by Faller, Davis and Associates and supported by Salt Strong Alliance, FDOT, and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program—is all about restoring vital shoreline in Old Tampa Bay. A lot of that area has been struggling with poor water quality and a lack of natural hard bottom, which oysters need to thrive.
The Salt Strong Alliance has installed the very first project under the Drive for Clean Water initiative in partnership with Faller, Davis & Associates, and the FDOT through a Tampa Bay Estuary Program Mini-Grant.
Florida West Coast Salt Strong Chapters along with other local volunteers rolled up their sleeves and led the charge on building these concrete oyster mats. They’re experimenting with different shapes and heights to support all kinds of marine life.
Here’s the coolest part: when oysters naturally grow on these mats, they create entire mini-ecosystems—boosting water quality, fish populations, and shoreline stability.
And efforts like this don’t happen in a vacuum…
🥾 If you’re an Insider member, make sure to check out your local chapter.
They’re doing some amazing boots-on-the-ground work—from waterway cleanups to oyster mat deployments—right in the areas where we all love to fish. It’s an awesome way to meet other anglers and give back to the same waters that give us so much. If you’re not an Insider yet, click here to learn more!
👉 And check out SaltStrongAlliance.com to learn more about the mission and upcoming restoration efforts.
Tight lines,
Luke Simonds
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
What a terrific project! Would be great to learn about future projects so Insiders can volunteer. I see lots of posts regarding the success of projects after they’ve taken place, but can’t seem to find any info prior to the event(s). Let’s get more volunteers out there to get even more mats created and placed!
I worked for the Clyde’s Restaurant Group in DC, they participated in an oyster recovery program too for the Chesapeake bay
It was a phenomenal experience to see & take part in the very first project placed in Tampa Bay last week !! What began as an idea, has gone through many stages & because of the never ending tenacity & hard work put forth by DARLENE SHUMAN, the beginning of what will hopefully be a lasting legacy in making & maintaining the cleanest water that Tampa Bay has had in countless decades is in place !! This is just the beginning in laying a foundation to assist the coastal environments all along the Eastern Seaboard to the tip of Texas.
Special thanks to Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Florida Dept. of Transportation, Faller, Davis & Associates, Salt Strong & all the other folks who have been a part of the Drive for Clean Water Initiative. Look for much more information coming soon !!
Wonderful work going on here to help Tampa Bay’s water quality. May our Lord continue to bless this endeavor. Thanks to everyone and their hard work.🤗🎣🙏💯
VA has a nice program helping waterfront homeowners build oyster castles. By the way 50 gal equals a 10 minute shower.
Tony, Would you call or text me about the VA program you mentioned as I would like to learn more about the program. Thanks J. (727) 518-4866
We need oyster bed and grass restoration throughout the ICW in Pinellas County, FL. Water is so disgustingly green all year now. Sad. Fortunately, there are still fish, dolphins, manatees, and birds galore, so the ecosystem seems decent. But water clarity is really poor.
Would be nice if SS / SSA shared things we, as homeowners can do on our own (like where to get vertical oyster garden strands?) to try and help. But really appreciate these initiatives. As Matt H says below, these solutions DO make an impact!
The commercial oyster farmers in Louisiana have to deal with a lot of soft bottoms and sand. They distribute crushed rock for the oysters to anchor themselves. No rock in this part of the world. They have it trucked in from a considerable distance. It works. I suspect they are getting the most bang for the buck when it comes to oyster seeding.
Great idea. A local lagoon in Rockport TX (Little Bay) is a few years into a project like this and it is already making a difference. Consists of recycled shell reefs to which young larvae can readily anchor and grow up. You can see these beds on Smart Spots with the Bing Sat view.
Also all the oyster shells we’ve put out in St.Charles Bay, Rockport, Tx.
Hey guys, this is good news, shorelines need help all the time. They already have started putting oysters around key points in my bayou ( bayou grande) . An in the process of restoration the White Island area. Great News Ya’ll 👍 Tight lines 🎣
Nice to see. We have a group called Heal Our Harbour in Punta Gorda. Part of our restoration project is building VOGs. Vertical Oyster Gardens and hanging them off our canal docks. We are also trying to educate people to not scrape the sea walls or bridge pillars. Some use the oyster for sheep’s head. The oysters attract the fish and if you scrape them off it is like destroying your own fishing spot. Use a shrimp instead. Thanks to all those who volunteer and help educate those who don’t understand the value of this resource.