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On Island Raises $2,800 for Oyster Restoration
On Island recently partnered with Coastal Watch to raise funds for SCCF oyster restoration efforts through T-shirt sales and an oyster-themed fundraiser. Through On Island’s “It Takes Grit” T-shirts and “Sip & Slurp” fundraising event, the company raised over $2,800 to help restore vital oyster reefs in Pine Island Sound!
“It is great that On-Island is bringing awareness to a project that is really important to our local waters,” said Coastal Watch Director Kealy Pfau.
On Island owners, who are also past and present SCCF board members, Laura DeBruce and Kate Sergeant, took a boat trip to a current oyster reef restoration site to dump symbolic buckets of “grit.” This partnership highlights the importance of education, awareness, and community support.
“It has been so fun seeing the shirts worn by community members around the island who are helping to support our oyster reefs,” remarked Pfau.
Oyster reefs provide vital habitat to marine plants and filter the water around them. These estuarine habitats are in decline worldwide due to over-harvesting, coastal development, nutrient pollution, and disease.
SCCF’s Marine Laboratory and Coastal Watch program are working to study, protect, and restore Southwest Florida’s oyster populations.
“We couldn’t do this without the help and support of organizations such as On Island,” Pfau said.