What is a living shoreline? A living shoreline uses a system of breakwaters to reduce wave energy, attract oysters, and reduce coastal impacts of erosion. Audubon Florida installs living shorelines in the Tampa Bay region to protect nesting, resting, and feeding habitat for eighteen species of birds.
These structures are colonized by oysters and other organisms, providing wildlife habitat, clean water, and abundant food resources for birds.
The 10,000 feet of living shorelines Audubon has installed has stabilized the shoreline to protect these island nest sites from erosion. Audubon installed more than 1,800 feet of living shoreline in December 2024 along Sand Key, Indian Rocks Beach, Dogleg Key, and Dot Dash Dit.
18 species of birds rely on these spoil islands to raise their families, including Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks, Tricolored Herons, and more.
This article originally appeared in the 2024 Coastal Report.
