Mortality of Market-Sized Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in the Vicinity of a Dredging Operation

Determining Dredge-Induced Turbidity and Sediment Plume Settling within an Intracoastal Waterway System

“…Rose (1973) and reported significant mortality of oysters and mussels around dredging and placement operations, respectively, when deposited material remained in place for some time. Wilson (1950) andIngle (1952), however, reported little apparent detrimental impact on oysters around dredging operations in situations where settled material was dissipated by currents.…”

“…In the case of sedentary species (such as oysters and coral reef organisms), relatively small quantities of silt may be enough to cause high rates of mortality, especially in coral reef organisms that are highly intolerant of silt. and Rose (1973) reported mortality of oysters and mussels from direct burial associated with placement and dredging operations, respectively. Wilson (1950) andIngle (1952), however, reported no apparent impact to oysters around dredging operations in situations where settled material was dissipated by currents.…”

Dredging Operations Technical Support Program. A Framework for Assessing the Need for Seasonal Restrictions on Dredging and Disposal Operations

“…Juveniles of shellfishes that assume sessile (e.g., oyster spat) or burrowing (e.g., surf clam) modes of existence may be particularly vulnerable to increased sedimentation rates in the vicinity of dredging operations. Rose (1973) and Saila, Pratt, and Polgar (1972) reported significant mortality of oysters and mussels around dredging and disposal operations, respectively, when deposited material remained in place for some time. Wilson (1950) and Ingle (1952), however, reported little apparent detrimental impact on oysters around dredging operations in situations where settled material was dissipated by currents.…”

“…In the case of sedentary species (e.g., oysters, coral reef organisms), relatively small quantities of silt may be enough to cause high rates of mortality, especially in coral reef organisms that are highly intolerant of silt. Saila, Pratt, and Polgar (1972) and Rose (1973) reported mortality of oysters and mussels from direct burial associated with disposal and dredging operations, respectively. Wilson (1950) and Ingle (1952), however, reported no apparent impact to oysters around dredging operations in situations where settled material was dissipated by currents.…”

Lethal and sublethal effects of sediment burial on the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica

“…Dredged sediments produce a plume that increases suspended sediment concentrations and affects areas up to 500 m from the dredge site (Wilber & Clarke 2001, Suedel et al 2014. Suspended sediments can abrade gill tissues, inflicting metabolic stress (Suedel et al 2014), and associated deposition may increase oyster mortality by 40% (Rose 1973). Despite the presumed importance of sediment deposition on oyster reef persistence (Jordan-Cooley et al 2011), few studies have addressed burial effects quantitatively and results of those studies have been variable.…”