2020-07-07 P&E Agenda - Item 3 - Attachment 1 - TNC Project Management Plan

Measuring natural oyster recruitment

Method: Settlement Panels
Settlement panels units constructed, as per Figure 2, are deployed to monitor rates, and composition, of spatfall
and recruitment of oysters onto the restoration substrate. Settlement panel units are deployed at both impact
and control sites. The panels are initially deployed and then replaced twice through the spawning season.

The plates may be inspected in water or above water, as described below:

Sampling in-water
   1. Label the bags according to their location – Northern most block = 1, Highest pole = High
   2. Navigate to the plates, take photos as you approach the plates
   3. Move on any large mobile critters off the plates (e.g. urchins, fish)
   4. Snip the cable tie at the top and ease plate assemblage off the pole
   5. Gently place the plate assemblage into the labelled bag with the top of the plate facing the labelled
        side of the bag
   6. Close bag, place in catch bag and continue sampling until finished

Sampling above-water
   1. Take the plates out in the order shown on the data sheet
   2. Place them right way up
   3. Keeping both plates in the same orientation, place them side by side
   4. Place a label by the plate noting site, orientation and height, photograph the panel and label for both
        sides of each panel.
   5. Examine it for oysters and mussels and measure and record note the species and the lengths on the
        data sheet
   6. Repeat the steps above working through all the plates




                                       Figure 2: Diagram of settlement panel unit



79 | Bring Back the Fish MER plan 2020 – 2022