Conversation by: Kylie Cooper Photos by: Lillian Reitz
HAVE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT?br
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As far as I can remember, I have always liked to be outside, and I havebralways liked science. But growing up, I thought that if you liked science,brthe only job available was to become a medical doctor. As a senior inbrcollege, I applied on a whim for an unpaid internship at a marine lab,brand I just loved it – the field work, the exploration, all of it. I think thisbris what ultimately put me on the path toward a Ph.D. in Marine Science.brI am particularly interested in providing scientific information to helpbraddress environmental challenges and to promote coastal conservationbrand sensible use of coastal resources.
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YOU FOUNDED THE “SINK YOUR SHUCKS” OYSTER RE-brCYCLING PROGRAM; TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHATbrTHAT INITIATIVE MEANS AND ENTAILS.
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We started the “Sink Your Shucks” program back in 2009 – we are abrdecade old! The goal of the program is to recycle shucked oyster shellsbrfrom restaurants, festivals, and seafood wholesalers for use in habitatbrrestoration. Oyster reefs are key components of healthy Gulf of Mexicobrestuaries. They filter and clean bay waters, create fish habitat, protectbrshorelines from erosion, and support a robust seafood industry. However, oyster reefs are severely degraded compared to historic levels. Because free-swimming larval oysters settle – attach and grow – on thebrshells of older generations, essential habitat is lost when shells of harvested oysters are not returned to bay waters. We have recycled over 1.6brmillion pounds of shells, engaged over 2,000 volunteers in habitat restoration, and restored over 20-acres of oyster reef in the Coastal Bend.
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WITH THE RECENT PASSING OF HB 1300, THE BILL THATbrNOW ALLOWS OYSTER FARMING IN TEXAS, WE SEE BOTHbrECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC GROWTH HERE IN THEbrCOASTAL BEND. WILL YOU ELABORATE ON THAT ANDbrEXPLAIN HOW GROWING OYSTERS LOCALLY WILL BEbrBENEFICIAL?
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Oyster farming (Mariculture) has the potential to bring new jobs and abrnew industry to the Coastal Bend. The Texas coast is known for freshbrseafood, and oyster farming would help ensure a more sustainable supply of seafood for restaurants and consumers. When grown under thebrright conditions, oysters can also benefit the environment because they filter the water around them and provide physical habitat for many other species. One adult oyster can filter 50 gallons of water or more withinbr24 hours, so the potential benefits for water quality are tremendous. Webrhave been working with Representative Hunter’s Oyster Task Force andbrwith Texas Parks and Wildlife to provide data to inform the rule making and site selection process.
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OF ALL YOUR RESEARCH EFFORTS THUS FAR, WHAT HASbrBEEN ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DISCOVER INbrTHE PROCESS?
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Twice a year, in the spring, we host community-based habitat restorationbrevents at Goose Island State Park. The events are open to the public andbrall sorts of volunteers participate, from school kids and Scout troops tobrretirees and winter Texans. Over the course of about 3 hours, we workbrtogether to create new oyster reefs in areas that need it most. Right now,brwe are working in an area that experienced a lot of erosion after Hurricane Harvey; as the oyster reef becomes established and grows, it willbract as natural breakwater to minimize wave energy. Getting kids andbradults involved in restoration is one of my favorite things, because itbrcreates meaningful connections to the bays in our backyard and givesbrpeople a reason to care about keeping them healthy.
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WHAT DO YOU CURRENTLY SEE AS ONE OF THE MOSTbrIMPORTANT CONSERVATION ISSUES?
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Habitat loss. Healthy natural habitats are deeply important to humanbrhealth and well-being, although the connection may not be immediatelybrobvious. We depend on healthy habitats to support all aspects of ourbrdaily lives; from the food we eat and air we breathe to the medicinesbrthat keep us healthy and the materials that supply our homes and cities.brHabitat loss is also the main driver of declining global biodiversity, andbrthe ability of natural habitats – and the human communities that theybrsupport – to bounce back from disasters is a direct function of this biodiversity. The amount of habitat loss on the planet is staggering. Urbanbrsprawl, deforestation, mining, and desertification can all easily be seenbrfrom space. Fortunately, there is a glimmer of hope. Conservation andbrresource management have grown, and some of the best minds in thebrworld are working to conserve and protect our remaining special places.
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THE CLIMATE CRISIS CAN SEEM SO OVERWHELMING.brWHAT IS SOME ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO PEOPLEbrABOUT EFFORTS THEY CAN MAKE THAT WILL ACTUALLYbrMAKE A DIFFERENCE?
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Individual actions CAN make a difference! Eat locally and low on thebrfood chain (like oysters). Visit one of the multiple farmers’ and seafoodbrmarkets in town to make this easy. Conserve water – pumping and treat-bring water and wastewater is incredibly energy-intensive, and electricity production and consumption is a major source of atmospheric CO2.brSupport birds and butterflies (biodiversity!) and plant native plants tobrminimize water use. Reduce your use of disposable products – especially plastics, both the production and recycling of which are energy- andbrwater-intensive. Carry reusable bags, bring your own water bottle, andbrskip the straw. Keep your food waste out of the landfill to reduce methane (a potent greenhouse gas) production by setting up a simple compost bin in the back yard (and use the resulting nutrient-rich fertilizerbron your lawn or garden). These are all efforts that can make an impact.
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WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT LIVING IN THEbrCOASTAL BEND?
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We moved to the Coastal Bend in 2007, and we never imagined howbrrich our community experience here would be. I love being part of abrcommunity that has so many creative people doing inspiring things tobrpush the boundaries of local food, art, and music. I love seeing new,brhomegrown businesses pop up downtown. It feels like Corpus Christi isbrreally coming into its own unique identity, and it is inspiring. I aspire tobrbe a part of that community sense of place in some small way.
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