Robin,UR…Answers to questions Re: Oyster Mats

 

                                    Responding To:

Anonymous / Lee  OCE 1001 50 (March 25, 2015)

First Let me thank you for responding to my post, you have very good questions, questions that I have asked myself and made note of them in my research log. Since you have multiply questions I’m going to break them down individually:

Q1)  What are the naturals materials being used?

A1)  Concrete. It is hard to except that concrete as a natural material since we know it as man-made, but it is made of all natural materials and when you look at the chemical composition you will get a better understanding.

·         “Oysters creates its own environment by secreting a shell composed of  95% Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) the remainder of the shell is made up of organic material and trace amounts of Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Aluminum (Al), Sulfate (SO²⁻₄), and Magnesium (Mg). Shell grow by accretion of materials secreted at their edges.”

·         Concrete is made of:  “Lime or calcium oxide (CaO): from lime stone, calk, shells, shale, or calcareous rock. Silica (SiO₂), from sand, clay or argillaceous rock. Alumina (Al₂O₃), from bauxite, recycled aluminium, clay. Iron (FeO₃), from clay, iron ore, scra iron, and fly ash. Gypsum (CaSO₄ . 2H₂O) found together with lime stone.

Q2)  According to your graph, it takes longer to assemble a natural mat?

A2)  That graph was an example of what “type” of graph (bar graph) I am going to use to compare the differences in my findings, which are not finalized.

Q3)  Is there any way to streamline the process to make to make it more competitively effective?

A3)  The natural base oyster mat is a work in progress “trial and error” research takes several attempts to get it right and then there is always room for improvement and more questions. “The steps of the Scientific Method” might be helpful.

Q4)  Are these mats being made and set up on a large scale in lieu of the plastic matting?

A4)  I would hope that someday they will be! There are still many things to be considered such as:  effectiveness, cost, and time. This is where cost effectiveness comes in (good value, where the benefits and usage are worth at least what is paid for).

                                                Responding To:

 

Gail Burgard Sharon, SEC. 50

Q)  What made you want to eliminate plastic from oyster mats?

A)  Good question and one I hope others will relate to. It all started with a handful of concerns and question:  Here is how it all started…

A conversation of oyster mats came up in class and I had no-idea what they were, at this time all I knew was that I liked eating oyster, so I listen to the concerns of the conversation, then I had questions myself like:

a) If I am eating these oysters and enjoying them what am I putting into my body?

b) Can the oysters digest the plastic and pass it through to humans?

c) If we are so concern with eliminating plastics from our pollution problems, why are oyster mats being made with plastic?

 d) What about the injured animals that are getting caught in and rescued from plastic, or worst (dying) because of plastics?

So.. through research I discovered how very important oysters are to the aquatic ecosystems and how badly the natural oyster beds where declining (85% around the world / 5-21-2009), I felt a need to do something. My proposal, as a class project at DSC, to design one was accepted and with help from Dr. Debra Woodall, I started looking at some natural material alternatives to make a natural base for the oyster mats.

Thank you Gail for your question.