Massachusetts Oyster Project for Clean Water

At A Glance

Location: 

Charlestown, Massachusetts

Primary Issue Area:

  • Land & Water

Active since:

2008

Grants Received In:

  • 2009

Core volunteers:

10

Our Purpose

to facilitate restoration of oysters to the estuaries of Massachusetts with a direct focus on Boston Harbor and a facilitation approach to other locations. We do this for two reasons. First, an oyster filters 30 gallons of water per day. And second, an oyster reef will support 100 other species. By restoring oysters we add biomass and create a food source for larger fish. 60% of the commercial fish caught for consumption spend part of their life in estuaries. We do four things- 1. Restoration 2. Shell Recycling 3. Education 4. Advocation for better regulation.

Summary of Projects

MA Oyster Project for Clean Water received a grant in 2009 to introduce water cleansing oysters into the mouth of the Charles river to re-establish the species, clean the water by offsetting manmade run-off and pollution, and draw other species of aquatic life.