NewsBay News 9October 26, 2026Pinellas County
Oyster River Ecology plans to install 200,000 oyster rag pots in Safety Harbor for reef restoration
Photo: Bay News 9
Oyster River Ecology is preparing to install 200,000 cement-coated rag pots across a five-acre site in Safety Harbor to restore oyster reefs and improve water quality. Volunteers are currently producing the structures in Palmetto, with the first installation of 5,000 rag pots scheduled for Nov. 14. The organization aims to rebuild declining oyster populations that filter water and support marine biodiversity along the Gulf Coast.
Read the full story at Bay News 9Why It Matters
The multi-year restoration project introduces thousands of artificial structures designed to form self-sustaining reefs without ongoing maintenance, relying on community volunteers and future funding to expand operations.
Key Facts
- Oyster River Ecology plans to install 200,000 rag pots in a five-acre space in Safety Harbor.
- The first installation in Safety Harbor is scheduled for Nov. 14, with 5,000 rag pots placed in the water.
- Rag pots are made by coating rags in cement using a cement mixer and inserting a wooden spacer to provide surface area.
- The manufactured rag pots dry for 24 to 48 hours before moving to the installation phase.
- Oyster populations have declined by 85% over the past century largely due to overharvesting.
- Oyster River Ecology has utilized 1,100 volunteers this year to help make the rag pots.
- Volunteers gather weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at the Palmetto warehouse facility.
- Oyster growth typically coalesces with neighboring rag pots after about a year when placed on one-foot centers.
- The ultimate goal is for the reefs to form so that there is no maintenance associated with them and they continue to function for decades.
- The Safety Harbor project could take several years to finish depending on securing additional funding.
Who's Mentioned
OrganizationOyster River Ecology“Nonprofit organization leading the oyster reef restoration project”PersonAbbey Kuhn“Ecological Projects Coordinator for Oyster River Ecology”locationPalmetto“Location of the organization's warehouse facility and volunteer rag pot producti”PersonDamon Moore“Executive Director of Oyster River Ecology”locationManatee River“Site of the organization's first restoration work”locationPinellas County“County where the Safety Harbor project is located”locationSafety Harbor“Project site for the five-acre oyster reef installation”