Help LRNow to catch baby oysters (spat) as we continue to restore the health and biodiversity of our waterways. This exciting program is fun, easy, and instructive.
LRNow’s Spat Catcher Program relies on community volunteers with tidal waterfront access to help guide our oyster restoration efforts. The collected data is used to advise our placement and substrate choices in oyster restoration projects.
In the spring of fall, volunteers are provided with habitat cubes (smaller than 12” x 12”) which will be suspended in the water from their dock. Each cage will contain a control substrate (oyster shell) and a variable substrate (such as brick, whelk, clam shell, etc). The cages are left in the water for a full growing season and then are returned to LRNow to be counted and compared. This data gets added to our data set and the spat are returned to a LRNow reef to live out their days.
Do you have access to tidal waters in Virginia Beach or know of someone who does? YOU can gather important data that will assist us in understanding spat settlement in Virginia Beach waterways.
Please review the volunteer expectations here and contact Cristin@LRNow.org for more information.
Want to learn more about spat and volunteer, but don’t have access to water?
We also need volunteers to build, clean, and repair cages before the collection events. On collection days in the spring and fall, we need volunteers to help with data collection and counting spat. Please complete the spat volunteer form to be contacted when the event is being planned.
Spat Settlement Data
Observations from 2024
• Oyster settlement is stronger in the north end of the river most likely due to salinity and water quality.
• Whelk shell is doing very well as a substrate. It provides a lot of protection.
• More mussels in the southern end of the river, which will support new restoration projects. Reviewing possibility to test substrates for mussel growth and collect data.
• Good amount of other animal life in cages: Crabs, Sponges, Squirts, and Fish that are returned to the water.
• We currently have one volunteer on the eastern branch of the Elizabeth River and looking to expand.
Historical Settlement Data
PEARL HOMES are places where people care about our environment and want to do what they can to help protect our resources.
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