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filler@godaddy.com
WHAT:
Our Field Operations team will conduct a FREE Dock Assessment/Site Eval for potential Vertical Oyster Garden (VOG) placement. This initial meeting usually takes between 15-30 minutes, and we hope to find two things: How many VOGs can your dock reasonably hold, and where is the ideal location for them.
WHERE:
Provide the address for the dock you'd like us to assess. Someone from our Field Ops team will meet you at the location and time that you provide. *If the dock is privately owned, please ensure that it will be accessible at the time of the assessment.
COST:
We work on a variable pricing model based on size and scope of the overall project. The value of a single VOG considers our shell recycling program, installation labor, travel expense, materials and environmental impact. These components are fundamental in sustainable long term pursuit of our mission.
Also referred to as a VOG, we assemble our VOGs by drilling a hole in the middle of 20 recycled oyster shells and stringing a heavy duty coconut fiber rope through each shell. We tie it off at the bottom, and typically hang the rope from a dock with enough excess rope that all 20 shells are fully submerged slightly below the surface.
When mature, a single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, removing excess nutrients and sediment from the surrounding waters. If each oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, then a VOG with 20 oysters can potentially filter up to 1,000 gallons of water per day (50 gallons/oyster x 20 oysters = 1,000 gallons). Over the course of a year, this vertical garden could filter up to 365,000 gallons of salt water (1,000 gallons/day x 365 days = 365,000 gallons).
Email a picture of your dock, or where you would like the shells to be placed, to info@oysterboys.org. We will digitally assess the dock set-up and identify how many VOGs your dock can hold. Once the assessment is complete, we will discuss your goals and budget to determine how
many total VOGs you'll need.
We drill the shells and assemble the VOGs, and based on your personal ability or desire, we can leave the install to you or we can complete it on your behalf.
We work on a variable pricing model based on size and scope of the overall project. The value of a single VOG considers our shell recycling program, installation labor, travel expense, materials and environmental impact. These components are fundamental in sustainable long term pursuit of our mission.
Oysters are filter feeders, which means they filter tiny particles, such as phytoplankton and detritus, out of the water as they feed. As they feed, they also remove excess nutrients from the water, which can help improve water quality. When it comes to filtering saltwater, oysters use specialized cells called "chloride cells" to remove the excess salt from the water they filter. These cells are located in the gills of the oyster, and they work by actively pumping sodium and chloride ions out of the gill cavity and into the surrounding seawater. This process helps the oyster maintain the proper balance of electrolytes in its body, and it also helps to keep the surrounding water clean and healthy.
It is estimated that a single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day. Some sources even estimate that a single oyster can filter up to 150 gallons of water per day under optimal conditions. Our vertical oyster gardens consist of anywhere from 15-25 individual oysters. Assuming 50 gallons per oyster per day, 1 VOG board with 10 VOGs on it could filter anywhere from 5,000-15,000 gallons of saltwater every day.
There are several reasons why you might want to use oysters to filter saltwater, including the following:
Overall, using oysters to filter saltwater can have a number of benefits for the health of the water and the surrounding ecosystem.
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