Romancing the Oyster

Posted on August 19, 2013 Updated on August 19, 2013

Having coffee on the porch this morning reminded me of why visitors spend hundreds of dollars a night to wrap themselves in the beauty of Beaufort county’s creeks, marshes and beaches. First there was the rainbow, arching over the Beaufort River during a sun shower. Then an osprey flew past with a fish clutched in its talons, torpedo style. So forgive me if I’m feeling a little romantic about this little slice of paradise.

I’m blaming it on an aphrodisiac that literally surrounds us – the oyster. Friday I had the chance to help some DNR scientists build castles for these sexy creatures. Yes, you read that right. Not just a home for oysters, or a habitat, but castles. And where better than one of the most scenic spots in all of Beaufort: the marsh abutting the Pigeon Point public boat landing.

It turns out the wave energy at that particular bend of the Beaufort River, and the substrate under the water, demands the VIP treatment. I’ve done other oyster habitat builds for SCORE and Friends of Hunting Island, where volunteers form a human chain and deposit bags of discarded oyster shells into shallow areas to refurbish depleted oyster beds or build new ones. But that works best in muddy, somewhat protected areas. The spot at Pigeon Point needs something heavier, less likely to roll and break apart in the wakes of passing snowbirds.

So the scientists at the Department of Natural Resources and the National Estuarine Research Reserve waived their magic wand and came up with the idea of building castles for oysters in the ACE basin. Here’s a picture of a jon boat full of them. Think cinder blocks but with fancy crenellated tops that stack together like Lego.

Castle building is not for the lily-livered. Only die-hard, hopeless oyster romantics can heft the heavy castles from trailer to jon boat and finally to pluff-mud and sandy river shore.

The skies parted, the humidity lifted and a light breeze seemed to bless the quest. Only one in 1.145 million oyster “spat” (pea-sized, cross fertilized larva — according to Naturalist Todd Ballantine) survive the starfish, oystercatchers and drum fish that prey on them. But one adult oyster can live ten years and yield billions of babies. And if that doesn’t warrant a palatial nursery I don’t know what does.

This is a long-term love story. There are plenty of ways to help keep it going strong. If you missed Friday’s build at the Pigeon Point Landing there are two more chances this week: at 1pm Tuesday and again at 2pm on Wednesday — both at Pigeon Point Landing. The DNR provides oyster-castle-building gloves and plenty of cold water – all you have to bring are your own rose-colored glasses.

If it’s candles and wine you want, then come hear an ACE basin expert – Dean Harrigal – give a GreenDrinks talk at Saltus on Bay Street tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 6pm and stay for a romantic dinner.