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Ocean Lecture Series
Oyster Reef Restoration Efforts in Florida
John Scarpa
About the Lecture
Oysters are an integral part of the estuarine environment, creating habitat for other aquatic organisms, reducing turbidity through filtration, and providing food for marine life. Unfortunately, excessive harvesting and environmental changes have reduced populations of these succulent creatures to potentially unsustainable levels. Over a century ago, oyster harvesters recognized the need to replenish oyster beds with shell to provide substrate for the next crop.
In the past two decades, efforts have been undertaken nationwide to restore estuarine ecosystems and, in particular, to enhance oyster beds that have shrunken from habitat changes wrought by coastal development. Dr. Scarpa will present an overview of the oyster in our culture and its importance for ecosystem integrity with a focus on restoration projects along the east coast of Florida.
About the Speaker
 Dr. John Scarpa is an Associate Research Professor in the Center for Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement at HBOI-FAU. Dr. Scarpa was the first to document the viability of an induced tetraploid bivalve (an organism with four sets of chromosomes instead of the usual two) during a Science and Technology Agency/National Science Foundation fellowship in Japan. His current research focuses on two of his most beloved bivalves, oysters and clams, for environmental needs and consumption. Dr. Scarpa's other research interest is developing culture technology for aquatic species that contain pharmaceutical compounds.
Dr. Scarpa is a member of the Board of Directors for the United States Aquaculture Society, where he chairs the Rules and Regulations Committee. He holds faculty appointments with University of Florida, Florida Tech, and Indian River State College. Dr. Scarpa received his A.S. in Liberal Arts from Nassau Community College, B.S. in Marine Sciences from Long Island University - Southampton College, M.S. in Marine Studies from University of Delaware, and Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University.
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