1 00:00:06,006 --> 00:00:08,041 >> TIME FOR A VOCAB MOMENT. 2 00:00:08,041 --> 00:00:09,810 SHORELINE EROSION. 3 00:00:09,810 --> 00:00:10,644 THE LOSS OF LAND AT THE 4 00:00:10,644 --> 00:00:12,579 SHORELINE. 5 00:00:12,579 --> 00:00:14,348 OYSTER REEF RESTORATION, THE 6 00:00:14,348 --> 00:00:15,249 PROCESS OF REBUILDING OYSTER 7 00:00:15,249 --> 00:00:17,518 REEFS. 8 00:00:17,518 --> 00:00:18,986 WATER SALINITY, A MEASURE OF HOW 9 00:00:18,986 --> 00:00:29,263 SALTY THE WATER IS. 10 00:00:29,263 --> 00:00:30,564 >> THEY SAID TO START WITH THE 11 00:00:30,564 --> 00:00:31,865 NATURE CONSERVANCY, BUT WE'RE 12 00:00:31,865 --> 00:00:32,933 GOING TO GO TALK ABOUT OYSTERS 13 00:00:32,933 --> 00:00:33,734 ON COFFEE ISLAND. 14 00:00:33,734 --> 00:00:34,868 >> OYSTERS? COFFEE? 15 00:00:34,868 --> 00:00:36,169 YOU'RE A RESTAURANT CRITIC NOW? 16 00:00:36,169 --> 00:00:37,170 >> IF IT'S ONE OF THOSE PLACES 17 00:00:37,170 --> 00:00:38,005 WITH A DRESS CODE, YOU CAN COUNT 18 00:00:38,005 --> 00:00:38,839 ME OUT. 19 00:00:38,839 --> 00:00:39,606 >> OKAY, ALEX. 20 00:00:39,606 --> 00:00:41,275 THEY MAKE TIES THAT CLIP NOW. 21 00:00:41,275 --> 00:00:42,376 >> REALLY? 22 00:00:42,376 --> 00:00:43,477 >> ANYWAY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I 23 00:00:43,477 --> 00:00:44,478 READ? 24 00:00:44,478 --> 00:00:45,746 AN OYSTER REEF OVER THERE IS 25 00:00:45,746 --> 00:00:48,949 HELPING MAKE ANOTHER ISLAND. 26 00:00:48,949 --> 00:00:50,017 >> HOW COULD OYSTERS BE HELPING 27 00:00:50,017 --> 00:00:52,286 TO SAVE AN ENTIRE ISLAND? 28 00:00:52,286 --> 00:00:53,053 >> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GO 29 00:00:53,053 --> 00:00:54,821 FIND OUT. 30 00:00:54,821 --> 00:00:56,056 MAYBE IF OYSTERS CAN HELP AN 31 00:00:56,056 --> 00:00:57,357 ISLAND, THEN MILK CAN BE RELATED 32 00:00:57,357 --> 00:00:58,558 TO SHAVING CREAM, RIGHT? 33 00:00:58,558 --> 00:01:07,568 RIGHT? 34 00:01:07,568 --> 00:01:09,803 >> OYSTERS ARE FILTER FEEDERS. 35 00:01:09,803 --> 00:01:11,672 THEY CONSUME PHYTOPLANKTON, A 36 00:01:11,672 --> 00:01:13,073 KIND OF ALGAE. 37 00:01:13,073 --> 00:01:14,374 FILTER FEEDERS PLAY AN IMPORTANT 38 00:01:14,374 --> 00:01:15,842 ROLE IN CLARIFYING WATER. 39 00:01:15,842 --> 00:01:17,311 EACH OYSTER FILTERS UP TO 5 40 00:01:17,311 --> 00:01:20,580 LITERS OF WATER PER HOUR. 41 00:01:20,580 --> 00:01:22,215 OYSTERS ARE SUPER IMPORTANT; 42 00:01:22,215 --> 00:01:23,450 SO IMPORTANT THAT THEY'RE 43 00:01:23,450 --> 00:01:25,786 CONSIDERED ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERS. 44 00:01:25,786 --> 00:01:26,720 THEY'RE AMAZING ARCHITECTS THE 45 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:28,255 COASTAL WATERS. 46 00:01:28,255 --> 00:01:29,723 IN ADDITION TO IMPROVING WATER 47 00:01:29,723 --> 00:01:31,692 QUALITY, THEY BUILD 3D REEFS 48 00:01:31,692 --> 00:01:32,726 THAT PROVIDE HABITATS FOR OTHER 49 00:01:32,726 --> 00:01:36,263 GULF ORGANISMS. 50 00:01:36,263 --> 00:01:37,431 AND THEY BREAK DOWN WAVE ENERGY 51 00:01:37,431 --> 00:01:39,199 TO PROTECT THE SHORE. 52 00:01:39,199 --> 00:01:40,267 THAT IS WHY THE NATURE 53 00:01:40,267 --> 00:01:41,501 CONSERVANCY IS CONDUCTING A 54 00:01:41,501 --> 00:01:42,669 LONG-TERM OYSTER REEF 55 00:01:42,669 --> 00:01:43,971 RESTORATION PROJECT THAT'S 56 00:01:43,971 --> 00:01:45,238 HELPING SAVE COFFEE ISLAND FROM 57 00:01:45,238 --> 00:01:46,807 BEING SWALLOWED INTO THE GULF. 58 00:01:46,807 --> 00:01:48,008 IF AN OYSTER CAN AFFECT AN 59 00:01:48,008 --> 00:01:49,743 ENTIRE ISLAND, THIS MAY HELP ME 60 00:01:49,743 --> 00:01:53,080 SOLVE MY IMPOSSIBLE QUEST. 61 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:56,149 LET'S FIND OUT! 62 00:01:56,149 --> 00:01:57,150 >> WE'RE HERE ON AN OYSTER REEF 63 00:01:57,150 --> 00:01:58,986 IN THE ESTUARY. 64 00:01:58,986 --> 00:02:00,187 AND REMEMBER, ESTUARIES ARE 65 00:02:00,187 --> 00:02:01,121 WHERE FRESHWATER AND SALTWATER 66 00:02:01,121 --> 00:02:02,756 MIX. 67 00:02:02,756 --> 00:02:03,957 ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY 68 00:02:03,957 --> 00:02:05,726 IMPORTANT TO RESTORATION IS 69 00:02:05,726 --> 00:02:06,860 KNOWING WATER QUALITY. 70 00:02:06,860 --> 00:02:08,095 SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE 71 00:02:08,095 --> 00:02:09,896 LIKE TO DO IS TAKE A LOOK AT 72 00:02:09,896 --> 00:02:10,964 WHAT THE SALINITY AND THE 73 00:02:10,964 --> 00:02:12,132 TEMPERATURES ARE TO ENSURE IT'S 74 00:02:12,132 --> 00:02:13,033 THE RIGHT SPOT TO HAVE AN OYSTER 75 00:02:13,033 --> 00:02:13,967 REEF. 76 00:02:13,967 --> 00:02:14,835 LET'S GO AHEAD AND CHECK IT. 77 00:02:14,835 --> 00:02:16,236 >> ALL RIGHT. 78 00:02:16,236 --> 00:02:17,270 SO I'M GOING TO TURN ON THE 79 00:02:17,270 --> 00:02:18,872 WATER IN FIVE, AND THROW IT ON. 80 00:02:18,872 --> 00:02:21,375 I WILL THROW THIS LITTLE SENSOR 81 00:02:21,375 --> 00:02:23,744 OUT IN THE WATER AND JUST DROP 82 00:02:23,744 --> 00:02:26,913 IT HERE. 83 00:02:26,913 --> 00:02:30,317 AND WE'RE CHECKING FOR SALINITY. 84 00:02:30,317 --> 00:02:33,787 IT'S ABOUT 22.3 PPT. 85 00:02:33,787 --> 00:02:34,921 SEA WATER IS 35 PORTS PER 86 00:02:34,921 --> 00:02:36,256 THOUSAND. 87 00:02:36,256 --> 00:02:37,624 BUT NOW AT 22 PARTS PER 88 00:02:37,624 --> 00:02:39,493 THOUSAND, THAT IS PROBABLY SOME 89 00:02:39,493 --> 00:02:41,161 FRESHWATER COMING FROM RUNOFF 90 00:02:41,161 --> 00:02:42,295 FROM THE RAINS WE JUST HAD UP 91 00:02:42,295 --> 00:02:43,563 STREAM. 92 00:02:43,563 --> 00:02:44,931 BECAUSE ALL OF OUR RIVERS IN 93 00:02:44,931 --> 00:02:46,299 ALABAMA FLOW TO THE GULF OF 94 00:02:46,299 --> 00:02:47,601 MEXICO AND END UP DOWN HERE ON 95 00:02:47,601 --> 00:02:49,336 OUR COAST. 96 00:02:49,336 --> 00:02:50,370 NOW, HOW DO THESE FACTORS AFFECT 97 00:02:50,370 --> 00:02:52,372 THE GROWTH OF OYSTERS? 98 00:02:52,372 --> 00:02:53,240 >> OYSTERS TEND TO LIKE HIGHER 99 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:54,741 SALINITY WATER. 100 00:02:54,741 --> 00:02:55,509 BUT THEY WILL GROW IN LOWER 101 00:02:55,509 --> 00:02:56,910 SALINITY. 102 00:02:56,910 --> 00:02:58,645 BUT THEY LIKE TO KIND OF 103 00:02:58,645 --> 00:03:00,414 ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN THE 104 00:03:00,414 --> 00:03:02,082 SALTIER WATER BEST. 105 00:03:02,082 --> 00:03:03,950 TOSS THE QUAD OVER HERE TO SEE 106 00:03:03,950 --> 00:03:06,686 HOW WE DO A SAMPLE. 107 00:03:06,686 --> 00:03:08,188 GIVE THAT A LITTLE TOSS. 108 00:03:08,188 --> 00:03:09,389 PERFECT! 109 00:03:09,389 --> 00:03:11,691 NOW, IF YOU CAN GRAB THAT TRAY, 110 00:03:11,691 --> 00:03:16,596 LET'S SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE. 111 00:03:16,596 --> 00:03:18,131 THE REALLY NEAT THING ABOUT 112 00:03:18,131 --> 00:03:20,167 OYSTERS REEFS IS THAT IT'S NOT 113 00:03:20,167 --> 00:03:21,635 JUST ABOUT THE OYSTER. 114 00:03:21,635 --> 00:03:23,270 IT'S ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. 115 00:03:23,270 --> 00:03:26,073 IT'S A HUGE COMMUNITY OF 116 00:03:26,073 --> 00:03:28,075 ORGANISMS. 117 00:03:28,075 --> 00:03:29,176 BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW THE OYSTERS 118 00:03:29,176 --> 00:03:31,211 HAVE SETTLED ON THE SHELVES THAT 119 00:03:31,211 --> 00:03:32,546 WE BROUGHT OUT HERE. 120 00:03:32,546 --> 00:03:34,014 HERE IS AN OYSTER. 121 00:03:34,014 --> 00:03:36,683 THERE'S A BABY ONE HERE. 122 00:03:36,683 --> 00:03:38,185 SEE HOW THE POINTS ARE ALL NICE 123 00:03:38,185 --> 00:03:40,954 AND NEW? 124 00:03:40,954 --> 00:03:41,922 AND THEN IF YOU GET DOWN IN 125 00:03:41,922 --> 00:03:44,024 HERE, YOU SEE YOU ALSO GET 126 00:03:44,024 --> 00:03:45,592 MUSSELS. 127 00:03:45,592 --> 00:03:46,526 AND MUSSELS ARE FILTERERS JUST 128 00:03:46,526 --> 00:03:47,961 LIKE OYSTERS. 129 00:03:47,961 --> 00:03:49,429 SO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, EVEN IF 130 00:03:49,429 --> 00:03:51,498 WE DON'T HAVE A TON OF OYSTERS 131 00:03:51,498 --> 00:03:53,166 COVERING IT, IF WE HAVE MUSSELS 132 00:03:53,166 --> 00:03:54,234 ALONG WITH IT, WE'RE STILL DOING 133 00:03:54,234 --> 00:03:56,002 THE JOB. 134 00:03:56,002 --> 00:03:57,838 AND THIS IS LIKE A CONDOMINIUM 135 00:03:57,838 --> 00:04:00,006 FOR CRABS AND ARTHROPODS. 136 00:04:00,006 --> 00:04:02,375 SO LET'S LOOK AROUND IN HERE. 137 00:04:02,375 --> 00:04:03,944 CAN HELP US? 138 00:04:03,944 --> 00:04:05,011 OPEN THIS UP AND SEE WHAT KIND 139 00:04:05,011 --> 00:04:07,714 OF OTHER CRITTERS WE HAVE? 140 00:04:07,714 --> 00:04:08,782 SEE ALL OF THESE LITTLE LIGHT 141 00:04:08,782 --> 00:04:10,217 CRABS. 142 00:04:10,217 --> 00:04:10,984 >> IT'S LIKE A LITTLE 143 00:04:10,984 --> 00:04:12,519 CONDOMINIUM. 144 00:04:12,519 --> 00:04:14,054 THEY LOVE IT. 145 00:04:14,054 --> 00:04:15,856 SOME OF THEM ARE JUVENILE STONE 146 00:04:15,856 --> 00:04:16,656 CRABS, AND SOME OF THEM ARE 147 00:04:16,656 --> 00:04:19,893 LITTLE MUD CRABS. 148 00:04:19,893 --> 00:04:20,727 THERE'S ALWAYS JUST A TON OF 149 00:04:20,727 --> 00:04:22,162 THINGS. 150 00:04:22,162 --> 00:04:23,230 SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE 151 00:04:23,230 --> 00:04:24,798 OYSTERS, IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE 152 00:04:24,798 --> 00:04:26,800 COMMUNITIES OF THE OYSTERS. 153 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:27,534 >> WHAT OTHER TECHNIQUES DO YOU 154 00:04:27,534 --> 00:04:29,369 GUYS USE? 155 00:04:29,369 --> 00:04:31,438 >> WE ACTUALLY HAVE PUT CONCRETE 156 00:04:31,438 --> 00:04:33,306 DOMES CALLED REEF FAULT OUT 157 00:04:33,306 --> 00:04:35,742 HERE, AND WE PUT REBAR CAGES 158 00:04:35,742 --> 00:04:37,677 THAT HAVE SHELL ON THE SIDE, 159 00:04:37,677 --> 00:04:38,712 BECAUSE OYSTERS LIKE OYSTERS 160 00:04:38,712 --> 00:04:40,914 BEST TO GROW ON. 161 00:04:40,914 --> 00:04:42,115 THEY WILL SETTLE ON OTHER 162 00:04:42,115 --> 00:04:42,782 THINGS, BUT THEY LIKE OYSTERS 163 00:04:42,782 --> 00:04:43,917 BEST. 164 00:04:43,917 --> 00:04:45,418 SO WE TRIED THREE DIFFERENT 165 00:04:45,418 --> 00:04:47,220 TECHNIQUES IN THIS AREA TO SEE 166 00:04:47,220 --> 00:04:48,588 WHAT WORKS BEST WHERE. 167 00:04:48,588 --> 00:04:49,589 WHAT WORKS BEST TO HELP BREAK 168 00:04:49,589 --> 00:04:50,757 THE WAVES; 169 00:04:50,757 --> 00:04:51,591 WHAT WORKS BEST TO HELP FOR 170 00:04:51,591 --> 00:04:52,826 OYSTERS; 171 00:04:52,826 --> 00:04:53,894 AND WHAT WORKS BEST TO BRING 172 00:04:53,894 --> 00:04:55,061 BACK THE FISHERIES. 173 00:04:55,061 --> 00:04:55,896 >> YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SO 174 00:04:55,896 --> 00:04:56,930 SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING THIS 175 00:04:56,930 --> 00:04:57,964 ISLAND. 176 00:04:57,964 --> 00:04:59,766 WHAT ARE YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS? 177 00:04:59,766 --> 00:05:00,867 >> WE HAVE MORE TO DO HERE, BUT 178 00:05:00,867 --> 00:05:01,968 THERE ARE ISLANDS AND SHORE 179 00:05:01,968 --> 00:05:03,637 LINES JUST LIKE THIS ALL OVER 180 00:05:03,637 --> 00:05:05,305 COASTAL ALABAMA THAT NEED HELP. 181 00:05:05,305 --> 00:05:07,007 SO WE'RE WORKING TO PUT THE SAME 182 00:05:07,007 --> 00:05:09,276 RESTORATION IN A PLAY THERE. 183 00:05:09,276 --> 00:05:10,744 AND IT'S EXCITING ON THE REEFS. 184 00:05:10,744 --> 00:05:12,112 BUT REMEMBER, PART OF THE 185 00:05:12,112 --> 00:05:13,380 RESTORATION ALSO INVOLVES THE 186 00:05:13,380 --> 00:05:14,681 SHORELINE AND THE MARSH. 187 00:05:14,681 --> 00:05:15,682 WE SHOULD GO CHECK THAT OUT. 188 00:05:15,682 --> 00:05:17,150 >> LET'S GO! 189 00:05:17,150 --> 00:05:18,118 >> WHAT KIND OF ANIMALS ARE WE 190 00:05:18,118 --> 00:05:19,252 LOOKING TO CATCH HERE? 191 00:05:19,252 --> 00:05:20,754 >> WE ARE GOING TO CATCH SHRIMP, 192 00:05:20,754 --> 00:05:22,489 JUVENILE FISH, LIKE BAY 193 00:05:22,489 --> 00:05:24,791 ANCHOVIES AND CRABS THAT ARE 194 00:05:24,791 --> 00:05:26,459 PROBABLY SWIMMING IN THE WATER. 195 00:05:26,459 --> 00:05:28,128 WE MIGHT CATCH JELLYFISH -- 196 00:05:28,128 --> 00:05:30,030 ANYTHING THAT LIVES IN THE 197 00:05:30,030 --> 00:05:32,866 MARSH. 198 00:05:32,866 --> 00:05:33,867 WHEN WE GET CLOSE TO THE SHORE, 199 00:05:33,867 --> 00:05:36,269 WE'RE GOING TO SLOWLY LIFT UP 200 00:05:36,269 --> 00:05:39,439 THE NET. 201 00:05:39,439 --> 00:05:40,674 AND THEN WHEN YOU GET TO THAT 202 00:05:40,674 --> 00:05:42,509 POINT, YOU CAN FLATTEN IT OUT, 203 00:05:42,509 --> 00:05:48,915 PULL IT UP SLOWLY. 204 00:05:48,915 --> 00:05:51,484 AND HERE WE GO. 205 00:05:51,484 --> 00:05:53,119 AND SHRIMP! 206 00:05:53,119 --> 00:05:54,054 >> OH, MY GOSH. 207 00:05:54,054 --> 00:05:56,056 I SEE SO MANY SHRIMP! 208 00:05:56,056 --> 00:05:58,625 THE CATFISH, WHICH IS ONE OF THE 209 00:05:58,625 --> 00:06:01,094 BASES OF THE FOOD CHAIN HERE, A 210 00:06:01,094 --> 00:06:04,664 LOT OF THESE JELLIES, KNOWN AS 211 00:06:04,664 --> 00:06:06,132 CONE JELLIES, THEY ARE TINAFORS, 212 00:06:06,132 --> 00:06:07,367 AND THEY IN THE NEST AND THEY 213 00:06:07,367 --> 00:06:08,868 DON'T STING. 214 00:06:08,868 --> 00:06:10,570 THEN WE HAVE A LOT OF SHRIMP IN 215 00:06:10,570 --> 00:06:14,975 HERE THAT ARE ACTUALLY THE SAME 216 00:06:14,975 --> 00:06:16,743 SHRIMP THAT WHEN THEY GROW UP, 217 00:06:16,743 --> 00:06:20,480 THEY WILL END UP ON OUR TABLE. 218 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,349 JUVENILE -- THIS IS A BLUE CRAB. 219 00:06:22,349 --> 00:06:23,750 DID YOUR EVER HAVE CRAB CAKES? 220 00:06:23,750 --> 00:06:25,485 >> YEAH. 221 00:06:25,485 --> 00:06:29,723 >> THAT IS THAT CRAB. 222 00:06:29,723 --> 00:06:30,523 THEY DON'T GROW UP TO BE A BIG 223 00:06:30,523 --> 00:06:31,891 ONE. 224 00:06:31,891 --> 00:06:32,792 >> HE IS PINCHING ON YOU 225 00:06:32,792 --> 00:06:34,094 ALREADY. 226 00:06:34,094 --> 00:06:35,495 >> WELL, THEY ARE FEISTY. 227 00:06:35,495 --> 00:06:36,696 BLUE CRABS HAVE ATTITUDES. 228 00:06:36,696 --> 00:06:39,532 THAT'S FOR SURE. 229 00:06:39,532 --> 00:06:41,968 BUT YEAH. 230 00:06:41,968 --> 00:06:43,403 SO THE MARSH HELPS SUPPORT A 231 00:06:43,403 --> 00:06:46,273 DIFFERENT KIND OF COMMUNITY THAN 232 00:06:46,273 --> 00:06:47,807 WHAT WE SAW IN THE REEF, AND 233 00:06:47,807 --> 00:06:49,009 THEY COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER, AND 234 00:06:49,009 --> 00:06:50,377 THEY WORK TOGETHER TO HELP 235 00:06:50,377 --> 00:06:52,379 PROVIDE THAT NURSERY HABITAT FOR 236 00:06:52,379 --> 00:06:53,947 ALL OF OUR FISH AND OUR 237 00:06:53,947 --> 00:06:55,382 SHELLFISH HERE ON THE GULF 238 00:06:55,382 --> 00:06:56,249 COAST. 239 00:06:56,249 --> 00:06:57,217 AND OF COURSE THEN THAT FEEDS 240 00:06:57,217 --> 00:06:59,052 THE NATION. 241 00:06:59,052 --> 00:07:00,086 >> THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR 242 00:07:00,086 --> 00:07:01,087 YOUR TIME AND TEACHING ME SO 243 00:07:01,087 --> 00:07:02,956 MUCH ABOUT OYSTERS. 244 00:07:02,956 --> 00:07:04,024 >> WELL, COME BACK ANY TIME YOU 245 00:07:04,024 --> 00:07:04,924 WANT TO SEE HOW THIS RESTORATION 246 00:07:04,924 --> 00:07:06,693 PROGRESSES. 247 00:07:06,693 --> 00:07:08,028 AND NOW LET'S GET THESE GUYS 248 00:07:08,028 --> 00:07:09,129 BACK IN THE WATER. 249 00:07:09,129 --> 00:00:00,000 >> LET'S GO.