Oysters and oyster reefs provide numerous environmental and economic benefits. According to the Connecticut Shellfish Restoration Guide oysters provide the following “ecosystem services”. 

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ECOSYSTEM SERVICES*: 

 

                      Coastal Habitat Provision: Reef-forming species such as oysters create habitats that provide a refuge,                           reproduction, and foraging habitat for fish and invertebrates. ​​

 

                 Improved Water Quality: Filter-feeding shellfish help combat the negative impacts of excessive                                  nutrients and clarify the water by consuming microscopic algae and storing excess nitrogen.                                        Additionally, oyster reefs can sequester carbon

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                    ​  Shoreline Stabilization: The natural reefs that oysters create provide structural integrity where land                             meets the sea, stabilizing and protecting it from erosion.

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                       Shellfish Production: Commercial aquaculture is a $25 million industry, provides local food and                                 jobs, and recreational shellfish production supports tourism and contributes more than $2 million to                           the local economy. 

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                       Fisheries Production:  The abundance of marine life increases with oyster density, and many of these                            non-shellfish species are of commercial or recreational value. 

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    *Source - Connecticut Shellfish Restoration Guide

        https://shellfish.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2022/06/CTSRG_June9.pdf