Oysters are frequently associated with fine dining, but many are unaware that their reefs may be used as a practical solution for the mitigation of climate change induced sea level rise. Artificially installed oyster reefs act as living breakwaters to protect vulnerable coastal regions.
The natural filtration capabilities of oysters, coupled with their adaptability to their environment make the mollusk a multifaceted tool to battle sea level rise. As an added benefit, oyster reefs revitalize local ecosystems and economies, with a multitude of natural and financial benefits.
Prior to my Virtual Student Federal Service internship with the U.S. Department of State, I traveled with a group of my peers from William & Mary to Zeeland, Netherlands to collaborate with students from Dutch universities to study climate-resilient technologies implemented by the Netherlands. My research focused on the use of artificial oyster reefs to mitigate rising sea levels while working alongside oyster farmers and Wageningen University environmental researchers.
Oyster reefs as living breakwaters
For centuries, different techniques have been used to decrease the energy of waves coming from the sea. A recent strategy that both protects from the sea and diversifies the ecosystem is a technology called “living breakwaters”. Living breakwaters reduce the increased coastal erosion and flooding that climate change has caused. As opposed to stationary gray infrastructure, such as seawalls and retention basins, oyster reefs are green infrastructure that become part of the local environment and have positive spillovers. Using nature as a guide, green infrastructure is an inventive approach to dealing with extreme weather.
Living breakwaters have been tested as green infrastructure in the Oosterschelde region of the Netherlands. Green infrastructure can be implemented almost everywhere, but artificial oyster reefs are primarily used to reduce coastal erosion, coastal flooding, and tidal flooding. The Oosterschelde region of the Netherlands saw severe erosion from intensifying storms, thus the decision to utilize oysters. Coastal protection is a high priority for the Dutch, given a sizable portion of the Netherlands was reclaimed from the sea. Zeeland, the island-dense province where the Oosterschelde lies, is especially at risk. Climate change causes sea level rise, which escalates the destructive power of storms.
Local leaders from the Netherlands leaned into the shellfish cultivation culture and witnessed multiple additional benefits from the oyster reefs, like their adaptability and natural filtration capabilities. The artificial oyster reefs also proved to be more effective than the previous storm surge barriers due to their ability to grow vertically with the sea. This adaptability was profoundly helpful with shore protection as it increasingly reduced the energy of the waves crashing onto the shore. Oysters also serve as a natural filter as they actively clear the local waters of excess nitrogen caused by pollution. Runoff from fertilizers and other pollutants leads to extremely high levels of nitrogen, causing eutrophication which ruins ecosystems. Adding oysters to an area is advantageous for the health of the ecosystem as the prevention of this human-caused eutrophication protects biodiversity.
Bivalve shellfish, like oysters, are often cited as an example of a blue (or aquatic) food that can also be a source of climate adaptation solutions, while providing economic opportunities to local communities. Aquaculture, or the rearing and harvesting of aquatic fish and plants, is a large part of many coastal economies globally; the U.S. is no exception. The U.S. government recognizes this value and is part of the Aquatic Blue Food Coalition launched at the UN Ocean Conference in June 2022. This coalition prioritizes environmentally resilient food systems and plans to capitalize on aquaculture as a means to address malnutrition.
Shucked wild oyster in Oosterschelde National Park, Zeeland, Netherlands A shucked wild oyster in Oosterschelde National Park, Zeeland, Netherlands International Environmental Cooperation
The U.S. supports several international environmental initiatives similar to the Aquatic Blue Food Coalition. While in the Hague, Netherlands, I met with a U.S. Foreign Service Officer and learned about the historically close relationship between the U.S. and the Netherlands. Dating back to 1782, this is one of our oldest, continuous bilateral relationships and it continues to thrive with many multilateral efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change. With long coastlines, both nations understand the threat rising sea levels pose to their populations, but battling the sea is nothing new for the Dutch. Resilient coastlines are part of their identity and their experiences are invaluable to the United States as we fight climate change and its effects.
Oysters are the key to battling sea level rise in coastal regions because of their effectiveness in protecting communities from intensifying dangers of the sea, while simultaneously supporting local economies and ecosystems. My experience in the Netherlands exposed me to the myriad inventive responses to climate change. International cooperation is paramount to find effective, sustainable solutions to the global issues that we face.
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