By Susan Loden, Hometown News Staff Writer | View Source

The Marine Discovery Center is on a mission to involve New Smyrna Beach residents in marine projects to enhance the environment.

Topping the list is the building of 4,500 wire-mesh-based oyster shell mats that will become the base of a 40-acre habitat for oysters in the Indian River Lagoon in the Canaveral National Seashore, south of Oak Hill.

Approximately 25 volunteers, including children, gathered at the Marine Discovery Center at 162 North Causeway on Tuesday. For two hours, they strapped oyster half-shells to 16-inch-square, wire mats. University of Central Florida biology students will anchor the mats in the lagoon.

Mats will also be built at the New Smyrna Beach Dunes Park pavilion, Saturday, Aug. 5. That same day, others will build shell mats at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet. More mats will be built at the science center Saturday, Aug. 19.

Oyster larva, attracted to shells of their own species, will attach to the shell mats for life. The colony will grow into a reef that will cleanse the water of pollution and plankton. The oysters will provide food, a habitat and hiding places for other marine life, said Chad Truxall, director of education for Marine Discovery Center.

Oyster mat building is just one community project of the center. More mats will be built there, but the schedule isn’t yet set. However, volunteers will soon be needed to help plant mangroves near the center, which is located near the North Causeway on the shore of the Intercoastal Waterway. The center also wants help to restore and replant man made Chicken Island, in the waterway directly across from Marine Discovery Center, Mr. Truxall said.

The shell mat project is funded by The Nature Conservancy.

For information or to sign up for this or other projects of Marine Discovery Center, call (386) 428-4828.