The shoreline protection potential of oyster reefs: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Nature-based solutions for erosion control that incorporate oyster reefs, alone or in combination with other habitats, are an increasingly popular approach due to their potential to protect shorelines and enhance oyster production. However, the extent to which natural or constructed oyster reefs provide shoreline protection remains unclear. We conducted a global systematic literature review and meta-analysis to summarize and evaluate the potential of oyster reefs in attenuating waves, promoting sediment accretion, and/or reducing shoreline erosion. Factors extracted from studies included shoreline protective measures examined, oyster reef structure type, and oyster reef tidal location. The results of the meta-analysis showed generally positive outcomes across measures, but also considerable uncertainty. Intertidal projects had the most consistent outcomes, but the magnitude of the effects varied by reef type, shoreline protective measure, and tidal location. This review provides a novel synthesis of the protection potential of oyster reefs across multiple shoreline protective measures. Our findings suggest that the success of oyster reefs is highly dependent on site-specific environmental conditions, particularly wave energy and height, as well as design characteristics, such as tidal location and crest height. These findings may serve as a reference for future research and inform the design and implementation of oyster reef structures for shoreline protection.