Don’t have water access to deploy your own VOG, but still want to spread awareness about the benefits of oysters? Estuary Educators commit to hanging a VOG proudly from their front porch, patio, or anywhere they like. They then educate their family, friends, and fellow community members on the importance of oysters and how VOGs can help recover lost ecological services to Tampa Bay.

Oyster Ambassadors commit to deploying at least one VOG from their own personal dock or seawall for a minimum of 12 months. During that time, GSI scientists will follow up with our Oyster Ambassadors at 6- and 12-months post-deployment to collect wet weights of the VOGs and water quality measurements. This information will be used to help scientists determine which water quality measurements, like temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen, are most important for VOG success.

Shellfish Scientists commit to all of the responsibilities of our Oyster Ambassadors, but become the scientists themselves! In addition to allowing GSI scientists to record VOG wet weights and water quality measurements at 6- and 12-months post-deployment, Shellfish Scientists will take photos of their VOGs quarterly and upload them to iNaturalist. Shellfish Scientists will be given an ID sheet with all of the organisms that may be present on their VOGs to assist them with identifying the species present.