Oyster reefs were once a dominant feature along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.  Over-harvesting and other anthropogenic causes have reduced oyster reefs to little of their historic coverage.

Oyster reefs are recognized for their value as a fishery source for oysters, yet these reefs also provide habitat for a variety of other species.  However, the magnitude of their habitat value is unknown due to our limited understanding of use by estuarine species.  In addition, no studies have quantitatively assessed the use of oyster reefs by fisheries species particularly as they relate to impact from dredging, loss of fisheries habitat, and food web dynamics.  Moreover, examining this habitat type is critical to effective management and protection measures for Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) mandated by the 1996 Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act.  This proposal is a cooperative effort between the NOAA Fisheries, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (Jim Simons Co-PI), and TAMUCC designed to characterize patterns of habitat use and food web dynamics in recently mapped oyster reef systems in Matagorda Bay Texas, with emphasis on Lavaca Bay.