Oyster reef

An oyster reef is a dense aggregation of oysters forming a large colony. Because oyster larvae need to settle on hard substrates, new oyster reefs form on stone or hard marine debris. Later, the oyster reef will grow by spat settling on the shells of older or nonliving oysters. These dense aggregations of oysters are also called oyster reefs, oyster beds, oyster banks, oyster bottoms, or oyster bars, with no clear distinction and with regional variation.