Innovative Oyster Restoration Efforts Enhance Sarasota Bay and Manatee River Habitats

In 2022, Sarasota Bay Watch launched a 5-year submerged shellfish lease to grow clams in Sarasota Bay, while Oyster River Ecology received approval for a 10-acre oyster restoration site in the Manatee River. Additionally, vertical oyster gardens (VOGs) are being installed throughout the region to restore oyster habitats, with over 20,000 lbs of shells recycled and 1,000 VOGs built in 2024 alone.