In conjunction with Tampa Bay Watch and the Duke Energy Mariculture Center, CCA Florida is kicking off the Fred Crabill Fantasy Island Living Shoreline project November 16 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The project involves installing oyster reef balls and an oyster shell bar. Volunteers will shovel fossilized shell into mesh bags and transport them via dollies to boats to be installed on the shoreline to create a series of oyster bars. Volunteers are encouraged to work in pairs to take turns shoveling and tying the mesh bags. In addition to shoveling, volunteers are needed to wade in the water on the shoreline to pass the bags for the installation. Reef ball installation is a heavy project as reef balls weigh 200 pounds each. Two people share the weight of each reef ball at a time to install it on the shoreline. The goal of the project is stabilize shorelines and prevent erosion while creating habitat similar to natural oyster communities found along shoreline areas throughout Tampa Bay. Register to volunteer by emailing Rachel at rarndt@tampabaywatch.org.