Seed to Shuck Ventures offers restoration and conservation partners full surveying capabilities on local waters. A combination of GIS bottom topography, ground-truthing and patent tonging is used to measure conditions and identify optimal locations for oyster planting.

We start by mapping out systematic sampling grids developed in GIS. Once on the water, we measure bottom and surface water temperatures; dissolved oxygen, pH and salinity levels; as well as depth soundings for each pre-identified grid. Using a pole, we determine bottom content (shell, shell grit, sand or mud) and take surface penetration measurements. 

Patent tong samples quantify the benthic (bottom) habitat through the retrieval of sediment surface layers. The tongs are lowered to the bottom to an open position, and oysters, shell or other sediment is collected by closing the grab which effectively scrapes the surface layer of the reef.