Fri., February 24, 2012 7:30am (EST)

Crabs And Georgia's Coast
By Joshua Stewart
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Updated: 1 year ago

ATLANTA  —  
Crabs use oyster reefs along the coast for food and for protection. And the interactions between crabs, oysters and other sea life has important impacts on the function of our marshes. (Photo Courtesy of Georgia Outdoors.)
Crabs use oyster reefs along the coast for food and for protection. And the interactions between crabs, oysters and other sea life has important impacts on the function of our marshes. (Photo Courtesy of Georgia Outdoors.)
A number of projects are underway to restore damaged oyster reefs in Georgia’s coastal marshes. Oysters are important to the overall health of our near-shore ecosystems. They stabilize shorelines and filter water.

But there’s another player in this coastal habitat that also has a big impact: crabs.

University of Georgia marine ecologist Jeb Byers talks about the relationship between crabs and oysters and how they both influence the health of our coastal estuaries.

Learn much more about the crabs along Georgia’s coast and their roles in the environment on Georgia Outdoors, premiering 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, and 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 on GPB TV.