Tampa Bay Watch hands out dozens of vertical oyster gardens for Earth Day
TIERRA VERDE, Fla. (WFLA) — In honor of Earth Day on Monday, Tampa Bay Watch gave out dozens of vertical oyster gardens, or VOGs to help clean up the bay’s waters.
“Everything we do to help our bay is important,” said Oyster Shell Program Manager Richard Radigan.
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After a few years, the VOGs can grow with more and more oysters to become balls instead of cylinders.
“An adult oyster, while submerged, depending on size and health, can filter up to two gallons of water an hour, roughly 50 gallons of water a day,” Radigan explained. “So, the more oysters that we can get in the bay, the better, the more water that’s being filtered.”
The nonprofit handed out the VOGs, which are empty oyster shells on a rope, to local residents.
“I think it’s a really easy way to do your part to help keep the water here clear and clean,” said St. Pete Beach resident Sabrina Angelides.
The gardens are meant to go under docks, or anywhere with tidal flow.
“We have a dock and there’s a lot of oysters that grow on the columns there,” Sabrina said. “I think it’s a really cool way to just add to that and make a little sort of sea fish community under our dock.”
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The shells that make up the VOGs are collected from 14 Bay Area restaurants that recycle used oyster shells and give them back to Tampa Bay Watch.
“I love oysters in all facets,” said Sam Angelides. “So, they said they were giving them away, so I figured we should get some for our dock to attract the fish and grow more oysters, which I know help filter the water.”
The VOGs can become a food source and home for local wildlife as well.
If you’d like to pick up a VOG or two from Tampa Bay Watch, you can contact the nonprofit or send an email to rradigan@tampabaywatch.org to schedule an appointment.
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