Description
Coastal communities in Virginia face increasing risks from shoreline erosion and flooding driven by accelerating sea-level rise and changing environmental conditions. Living shorelines provide a nature-based approach to stabilize coastlines while maintaining ecological function; however, commonly used plastic mesh oyster shell bags persist in the environment and contribute to microplastic pollution. The objectives of this study are to evaluate basalt oyster shell bags as a sustainable alternative to plastic mesh and to determine their effectiveness in supporting ecological function and structural integrity at the Pine Cone Harbour living shoreline along the Hampton River. Field experiments will be conducted over twelve months to quantify oyster recruitment, benthic invertebrate abundance, biofouling, algal coverage, microbial community composition, and bag durability under varying environmental conditions. Temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH will be measured to assess their influence on biological responses. Results will determine whether basalt oyster shell bags provide comparable ecological performance and durability to plastic mesh while reducing plastic pollution, and will inform sustainable material selection for shoreline restoration to enhance coastal resilience and ecosystem health.