AN ALTERNATE MATERIAL FOR CONSTRUCTION OF SHELL PADS TO ESTABLISH OYSTER SEED BEDS AND COMMERCIAL REEFS

RESEARCH ON AN ALTERNATE MATERIAL, ANHYDRITE CALCIUM SULFATE, FOR USE AS CULTCH IN CONSTRUCTING SEED BEDS AND ARTIFICIAL OYSTER REEFS IS HEREIN PROPOSED. GIVEN THE FACTS THAT OYSTER PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES HAS DECLINED GREATLY SINCE 1908 AND THAT NATURAL OYSTERSHELL IS SCARCE AND EXPENSIVE, MOTIVATION FOR USE OF THIS ALTERNATE MATERIAL AS CULTCH INCLUDES ITS CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION, LOW COST, AND THE PHYSICAL PROPERTY TO FRACTURE INTO A LENTICULAR SHAPE SIMILAR TO NATURAL OYSTERSHELL. SINCE ANHYDRITE CALCIUM SULFATE, A CO-PRODUCT OF HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, HAS A POTENTIAL TO LEACH SPECIFIC IONS AND POSSIBLE TRACE METALS, IN VITRO ANALYSES WILL BE USED TO DETERMINE THE MATERIAL'S SUITABILITY FOR PLACEMENT IN THE ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENT. THE TEST MATERIAL'S COMPATIBILITY FOR OYSTER SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH WILL BE ASSESSED THROUGH IN SITU RESEARCH IN AN ESTUARY SUPPORTING SIGNIFICANT OYSTER PRODUCTION.