NC Oyster Month

It’s NC Oyster Month and the UNC Institute for the Environment is celebrating (or should we say shell-ebrating) by championing oyster reef research.

Oysters not only represent a North Carolina seafood tradition, but did you know they also play a vital role in coastal ecosystems? A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service, and an entire oyster reef can serve as a barrier to storms, helping prevent erosion. They also play a critical role in managing nitrogen levels. In fact, UNC researchers recently found oysters provide more than 40% of additional value through nitrogen removal than previously understood.

Carolina is proud to be a global leader in oyster research. Our commitment can even be seen in a recent study in which four of the top 10 oyster scientists were either Carolina students or faculty. Our researchers are striving to advance oyster research that informs restoration efforts, improves coastal resilience and helps communities make better environmental decisions.

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