Can Oysters Save the Planet?
Source: https://nowthisnews.com/earth/can-oysters-save-the-planet
Author: Jessica Cohen, and Alejandro Alba
Oyster reefs may be useful natural breakwaters in a storm and are able to help lessen the blow from major storms, it is not a be-all, end-all solution. Elevated CO2 levels are causing ocean water to be more acidic, which in turn makes it harder for oysters to form their shells and thrive. There's also the issue of overharvesting, but you can actually help with that by donating the shells of oysters you eat to restoration projects in your area for recycling. Oysters may be able to lessen the strength of the waves, and structures known as oyster reef living shorelines can act as a storm safeguard. According to studies conducted in the Gulf of Mexico, these structures can reduce the energy of powerful waves by as much as 76% to 93%. Unfortunately, it's estimated that approx 85%of the world's oyster reefs have been lost. Living shorelines, like oyster reefs, play an important role in coastal defenses and will become more critical as storms increase in strength due to the climate crisis. If the changing climate isn’t what stresses you out, maybe money will. One study estimated that human-induced sea level rise accounted for $8 billion worth of damage during Hurricane Sandy.