Treasure Coast's only oyster farm helping to restore Indian River Lagoon biodiversity (link to story)

Nestled just north of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in the Indian River Lagoon, a declining industry stands the test of time.

Nicolette Mariano, CEO and aquaculture biologist for Treasure Coast Shellfish, runs a tight crew of oyster farmers there − a handful of veterans and seasonal workers − who are helping to restore the lagoon’s biodiverse waterway.

Her nearly 7-acre leased area is the only oyster farm on the Treasure Coast and just one of three remaining on the 156-mile-long Indian River Lagoon estuary that makes up 40 percent of Florida's east coast.

Mariano and her team are out at sunrise year-round, traveling about 10 minutes by boat to the on-the-water farm south of the Sebastian Inlet.