OYSTER RESTORATION: Biologists and fishermen work 
together to restore oyster reefs in Galveston Bay after a 
hurricane destroyed nearly half of them...we'll explain on 
Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

On a recent day in East Galveston Bay, there are twelve 
boats driving back and forth in an area that is about the 
size of 70 football fields. Most of the boats are oyster and 
shrimping boats. 

But TPW biologist Jennie Rohrer (Roar) says they aren't 
fishing today. They're helping restore oyster reefs that 
were destroyed by Hurricane Ike two years ago.

These boats are pulling what we are calling bagless dredges 
over an existing oyster reef that was covered up from sediment 
from Hurricane Ike. So instead of actually pulling up the oysters 
from the bottom, they're just bringing the shells from 
underneath the sediment up on to the top of the existing 
sediment. :21.6

Oyster larvae need to attach to a hard surface in order to 
grow. So biologists hope that by exposing the shells, 
oysters will attach to them and slowly reestablish the 
reefs. 

And Rohrer says oysters are a crucial part of this 
community's livelihood.

Galveston Bay is very important in oyster harvest. And so a lot 
of money, a lot of effort, and a lot of people are hired through 
the commercial fishing industry. :10.1

East Galveston Bay is currently closed to commercial 
fishing to let the oysters grow and reproduce. But if all 
goes well, in two years, the oysters here should be ready 
for the catch.

That's our show ... we had research and writing help from 
Gretchen Mahan...the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration 
program supports our series ... For Texas Parks and 
Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti. 

Total sound bite time:		 0:31.7
Maximum Script time:		 0:53.3 Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25