Vertical Oyster Gardens (VOGs)
VOGS are oyster restoration structures composed of recycled oyster shells strung together and suspended in coastal intertidal zones. The VOGs recruit new oyster growth, expanding oyster reef habitats and promoting thriving ecosystems.
VOGs act as an exciting technique of oyster restoration that involves citizens like you! If you live on a marine coastal waterway you can install VOGs on your dock to help with oyster restoration! If you live inland you can help too! Read on to learn how you can be involved!
VOG installation instructions can be found below!
What do VOGs do?
Many types of restoration are used to help oyster reef habitats recover! VOGs are made of oyster shells that have been strung together and hung from a dock or pier. Different than other types of oyster restoration methods, VOGs will hang in the intertidal zone, off of the ground, and allow for oyster growth in deep water environments. The artificial structures mimic natural oyster reefs, helping to increase habitat and water quality. As oysters spawn, the spat (juvenile oysters) will attach themselves to these structures and begin to grow!
As a keystone species, oysters play a crucial role in maintaining healthy waters, filtering between 3 and 50 gallons of water per day. By removing sediments, algae, and excess nutrients, oysters can help prevent hazardous algae blooms and maintain clear clean waters. Increased oyster reef habitats can also help attract fish to the waters near you!
A single oyster can filter between 3 and 50 gallons of water a day, depending on their size. This allows them to make a large difference in the local water clarity and quality. Checkout this video from Florida Oceanographic Society showing oysters filtering the water!
Where can I get VOGs?
VOG building workshops!
Come to one of our workshops to help build VOGs to take home. After making your own VOGs, we will send you home with the supplies to hang them from your dock or pier!
For upcoming opportunities to join a VOG workshop near you, follow our Facebook pages!!
- Pasco Events: Pasco Sea Grant Facebook
- Pinellas Events: Pinellas Extension Facebook
- Pasco County: Dr. Megan Moore me.moore@ufl.edu
- Pinellas County: Katie Mastenbrook k.mastenbrook@ufl.edu
I don’t live on the water, can I still help with oyster restoration?
Absolutely! There are many ways you can help with oyster restoration if you live inland!
- Attend a VOG workshops and help us make VOGs that can be distributed to coastal citizens or businesses!
- Take a modified VOG home and hang it on your front porch! You can use the VOG to teach others about the importance of oyster restoration!
- Help us prepare VOG supplies!
- Donate to support this program! Add additional information mentioning you want your donate to support our Vertical Oyster Garden Program! Donate here!
How to install your VOGs!
Materials
We can provide you with the following supplies to hang your VOGS!
- VOGs
- Stainless Steel Wood Screws (TX25)
- Polypropylene Rope (several feet)
*You will need your own drill or screw driver*
1. Drill
Identify a spot on your dock or pier to hang your VOG. We recommend stainless steel wood screws. Screw the screw into the structure leaving the screw sticking out about 1 inch (to hang the VOG from). A T-Star drill bit will be needed for this type of screw. Other screw types can be used but stainless steel is preferred to prevent rust.
2. Attach your VOG to the rope
Using a bowline knot, attach the rope to your VOG. This is the preferred knot choice as it maintains a loose loop for the VOG to move freely and can easily be untied or retied if needed.
3. Measure the distance to the intertidal zone
Identify where the intertidal zone is located (the ranger between high and low tide). Looking around your dock, pier, or seawall, look for fowling organisms like oysters. They will grow in the range between low and high tide. Depending on the tide they may be exposed or underwater. Lower your VOG with the attached rope to the location where growth can be seen. Mark the length of rope from the screw to where your VOG hangs in the intertidal zone. Identify where the intertidal zone is located. Looking around your dock, pier, or seawall, look for fowling organisms like oysters. They will grow in the range between low and high tide. Depending on the tide they may be exposed or underwater. Lower your VOG with the attached rope to the location where growth can be seen. Mark the length of rope from the screw to where your VOG hangs in the intertidal zone.
4. Attach the VOG to the Dock
Using the length of rope you measured, create a Uni knot. After you make your knot you can the position the knot around the nail and pull it tight around the screw. Pull the knot tight to secure it. You can wrap any excess rope around the nail or cut it off. The VOG should now be hanging in the intertidal zone from the screw!
*5. Hang Multiple VOGs
If you are hanging more than 1 VOG from your dock, repeat steps 1-4 for each VOG. Install the VOGs approximately 12 inches (1 ft) apart from each other. This will leave space for the oysters to grow on the VOGs over time without crowding each other.
Tips and Tricks
1. You can pre-tie the rope on the VOG before hanging it on the screw.
2. To identify the intertidal zone, check the surrounding area to see where oysters and other animals are already growing.
3. If the water under your dock is shallow, you can walk under the dock (or float on a kayak) at low tide to install your VOGs. If it’s too deep, hang over the edge of the dock.
4. If you are installing multiple VOGs, hang them 12 inches (1ft) apart from each other.
VOG FAQ
Can I eat the oysters?
No, it is not recommended that you eat the oysters that grow on the VOGs. Oysters that are grown or harvested for eating are grown in waters that are monitored for water quality and bacteria/viruses. Remember oysters are filtering out all of the sediments, nutrients, algae, and bacteria out of the water. Would you want to eat the things growing in your waterway? We are using the VOGs to increase oyster habitats, we don’t want to eat them! Oysters are also a regulated species and can only be harvested under certain conditions.
What else is growing on my VOG?
In addition to oysters, barnacles, algae, sponges, invertebrates, and other creatures may grow on your VOG. These are all increasing biodiversity in the waters near you and can help to improve water quality and attract fish!
Can I put my VOG in freshwater?
No, oysters need brackish water to live. They require an average salinity of 8 ppt to 20 ppt. This means some oysters can live in tidal coastal rivers, where the salt water increases the salinity, but parts of the river that are less salty won’t support oyster growth. Freshwater ponds and lakes will not work either.
Can my business have VOGs?
If you have a business on the water and want to grow VOGs reach out to us. We would love for your business to help support coastal oyster habitat restoration!
My VOGs are installed, now what?
After Installation
- Make sure the VOGs are centered in the intertidal zone,
- Check that the knots are sturdy and that the VOG hasn’t fallen off!
- Look closely for new oyster growth or for other animals that may have moved in!
- Watch for new fish species that live around your VOGs!
Learn more about VOGs!
Blog by Lara Milligan: VOGs why they are important
Have a question?
Pinellas County, Katie Mastenbrook at k.mastenbrook@ufl.edu
Pinellas County, Lara Milligan at lara317@ufl.edu
Follow us!
Sources:
- https://tampabaywatch.org/our-programs/restoration/oyster-reefs/vertical-oyster-gardens/
- https://www.gulfshellfish.org/vog-citizen-science-program
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