Oyster Harvesting

[Bacon]

I am no expert nor am I familiar with the area, but those are likely oyster seed grounds established by LDWF. The dredges are collecting "seed" oysters to transplant elsewhere, but the reef remains intact. The reef is simply a hard substrate usually limestone that is technically referred to as cultch and required for the oyster to establish "footing."

Simply stated an oyster reef will not simply form on otherwise soft bottom, there needs to be a hard substance for the oyster to hold on to and grow.