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Front Page » Communities » Coral Gables seeks clean water pearl in native oysters

Coral Gables seeks clean water pearl in native oysters

Written by on January 12, 2021
  • www.miamitodayepaper.com
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Coral Gables seeks clean water pearl in native oysters

A proposed project to increase the population of native oysters, leading to cleaner waterways in Coral Gables, won support during Tuesday’s city’s commission meeting. 

Sponsored by Vice Mayor Vince Lago, the project asks the community to engage by creating habitation for native oysters, which is intended to help restore the city waterways and ecosystem.

“This is just another opportunity to deliver clear water in the next few years,” Mr. Lago said. 

With less than 1% of native oysters living along South Florida’s coastlines and waterways, the lack of habitat is stopping these oysters from thriving and really starting to help clean the waterways, said Alberto Aran, who is leading the project.

With 21 different basins flowing into Biscayne Bay, native oysters will dissolve more nitrogen waste levels in the waterways and drop nutrient loads into seagrass regrowth, which has decreased over 85% since 2011, Mr. Aran said.

“What I’m looking to do first is to add live oysters that can help act as the mother colony and then add lines of oysters below the docks, in areas that won’t affect boating, to add extra habitat,” he said. 

The project, which would use native oysters as a tool against algal blooms, would ask residents to place vertical oyster gardens under privately owned docks and shaded areas with at least 100 oysters, which would filter about 5,000 gallons of water, Mr. Aran explained. “We would create a community effort and collect oysters from the restaurant industry.”

“If I had a dream list, I would love a place where we could designate a drop-off site of oysters like an event and have a place or piece of land to secure those oysters,” Mr. Aran said. 

The project won’t cost the city anything, said Mr. Lago, who added that he’s going to get involved personally and contribute financially. “This allows residents to do something good for the community. It is not going to be mandated, but just a chance to get involved and engage.”

Details: www.experiment.com/biscaynebayoysters.

2 Responses to Coral Gables seeks clean water pearl in native oysters

  1. Alberto "Tico" Aran, MPH

    January 13, 2021 at 12:44 pm

    Hey Abe, Thank you for writing this story, I wanted to leave a little note here. Mr. Lago was 1 of 263 people who have donated toward this effort to restore native oysters to the bay. We were able to raise $15,000! I am currently looking for matching funding and partnerships and look forward to any work that is done with the city of Coral Gables.

    Everyone can check out the initial project details here: http://www.experiment.com/biscaynebayoysters

    And if anyone has questions or wants to connect they can email me: albertoaran1@gmail.com

  2. Eco Hailey

    January 21, 2021 at 10:22 pm

    This oyster initiative is so incredible to learn about. What an awesome effort to start restoring waterways and natural ecosystems.

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