Saving oysters could save your house—or at least your dinner

One of the many environmental benefits of wild oyster reefs is increased protection against soil erosion. Reefs stabilize ocean shorelines, making them less susceptible to damage by hurricanes and strong storms. Being filter feeders, wild oysters also remove bacteria, sediments, and even oil spills from waterways, making oyster reefs cleaner habitats for shrimp, clams, snails, and crabs, and the improved water quality encourages seagrass growth, which creates better habitats for fish.