New York City has revitalized its “oyster reefs” across five boroughs, creating a surprisingly effective flood defense system.
In recent years, New York City has experienced record flooding as a consequence of climate change.
Data shows that since 2000, flooding from rising sea levels has increased by 247% in some areas of New York. For instance, the sea level around the Battery area of Manhattan has risen nearly 23 cm compared to 1950.
Oysters are an effective weapon against rising sea levels – (Photo: WORLD NATION NEWS)
This area is bustling with activity, featuring the artistic Greenwich Village, the famous Tribeca business district, the lively Chinatown, and the thriving Financial District, which is home to the Whitney Museum of American Art, along with the World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
However, they have a secret weapon in the fight against rising sea levels: oyster farming.
According to Business Insider, at the World Economic Forum, New York officials explained how these mollusks can provide a surprisingly effective natural flood defense.
At the heart of this initiative is the Billion Oyster Project. This project aims to restore oysters in coral reefs at 15 sites across the city’s five boroughs.
Over the past six months, 11.2 million oysters have been added to a stretch of the Hudson River off the coast of Lower Manhattan, where they help filter water and create habitats for other marine life, as reported by the New York Times.
If the oysters grow large enough, the oyster reefs could even dissipate wave energy, helping to protect the city’s coastline from storm surges and flooding during severe weather.
The newly introduced oysters have been placed in over 200 underwater habitats, including metal balls, cages, and mesh enclosures.
According to a study published in the journal Ecological Engineering, oyster reefs are a valuable tool for building coastal resilience in the face of climate change and rising sea levels.
The Billion Oyster Project plans to restore 100 million oysters in New York Harbor over the next five years. In addition to mitigating flooding, water quality will significantly improve, and wildlife will return.
New York City is not the only place in the U.S. using oysters to address rising sea levels. The BBC reported that Louisiana is also utilizing these mollusks to combat coastal wetland erosion.
