Oyster populations are on the decline worldwide due to a variety
of causes including over-harvesting, lack of husbandry,
declining water quality, loss of habitat, increased run-off, and
erosion. In the Chesapeake Bay oyster populations represent less
than 1% of the historic resource. In South Carolina we are pro-
actively managing, restoring and enhancing oyster habitat to
prevent losses of this severity. The SCDNR conducts both large-
scale and small-scale, community-based oyster restoration using
recycled oyster shell. In order to maximize our restoration
efforts, we have been studying reef development, evaluating
alternative restoration methodology, and developing metrics for
evaluating restoration success. Oyster Restoration Methods
Studies in South Carolina have demonstrated that oyster
populations are substrate-limited. Oyster larvae are abundant
but there is a lack of hard substrate for attachment. Therefore
oyster restoration is largely a matter of increasing the amount
of hard substrate. Oyster shells