Oyster Garden Monitoring | St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program

Vertical oyster garden next to a yard stick

Vertical Oyster Garden Monitoring

Below is a step by step guide for monitoring your Vertical Oyster Gardens. This monitoring will be conducted monthly or approximately every 30 days for level 2 and 3 monitoring. If you aren’t sure what level you are or to update your contact information, email us at [email protected]

Monitoring Instruction File Download | Datasheet File Download

Level 1 Monitoring

No monitoring is required! Please provide images of the VOGs post-installation to amwrig[email protected] or [email protected] so we can plan to retrieve at the appropriate time post installation date. We will be in touch in 18-24 months to retrieve the VOGs for use in restoration projects.

If you determine that you would like to monitor your gardens in more detail, please email [email protected].

Level 2 Monitoring

Gardeners hang VOGs from docks and provide images and weights to the Estuary Program monthly.

Note: Submit recorded data into the VOG Monthly Monitoring Form here: Level 2 Monitoring Form

1. Open the Level 2 Monitoring Form on your phone or tablet, or prepare a paper data sheet for recording.

2. Record the date in the survey form or datasheet.

3. Pull VOG out of the water onto a sturdy structure. A dock is preferable!

Note: Wear gloves to protect your hands from fouling on the line.

4. Record the VOG ID. (Your last name and the color of the zip tie on your VOG. (Ex. Wright_yellow)

5. Position VOG so that it is laying down on the structure or propped up so that it does not spin. Take a picture. This will be side 1. Rotate VOG so that the side that was on the structure is now facing the camera, take a picture and this will be side 2.

6. Tie a loop on the VOG string to use for weighing (if not done already) where the fish scale hook will be inserted and used to suspend the VOG.

7. Tare (or zero out) the scale and make sure the units are set to lbs.

8. Place the hook in the loop on the VOG string and hold the VOG off the ground.

9. Once a small lock graphic appears on the scale screen, record weight in lbs. on survey form and/or data sheet.

10. Submit recorded data and images into the VOG Monthly Monitoring Form Level 2.

11. Return the VOG to the water and repeat the process for all VOGs.

Done!

Level 3 Monitoring

Gardeners hang VOGs from docks and provide images and weights as well as identify VOG critters and measuring and counting spat, or juvenile oysters.

Note: Submit recorded data into the VOG Monthly Monitoring Form here: Level 3 Monitoring Form

Conduct Level 2 Monitoring Steps 1-9 prior to the following:

1. Identify creatures of the VOG and note their presence using the data sheet or survey form. For any critters that you are unsure of, snap a photo and submit it with your data!

2. Count the number of live oysters and record in the datasheet or survey form.

3. Count the number of dead oysters. Dead oysters are oysters that have both shells intact and the shell is open. Do not count uncolonized shell from the original VOG as dead. Record your data in the datasheet or survey form.

4. Count the number of spat. These are baby oysters that are less than 25mm. Record the number in the datasheet or survey form.

Note: Unsure if you have spat? If it does not move when you use your nail to try and remove it, then it s oyster spat. If it moves, then it is a slipper snail.