Reefense: Living shoreline mosaics can achieve ecological and engineering outcomes with interdisciplinary design

R Rebecca L. Morris (School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne) J Jaden E. Akers (Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University) S Sandra Casas (School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center) J Justin Geldard (School of Earth and Oceans, Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia) A Alex Goad (Reef Design Lab) M Marco Ghisalberti (School of Engineering, Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia) X Ximing Guo (Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University) R Reid Holland (Rutgers Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers University) H Hongyue Jin (Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering, University of Arizona) K Kelly M. Kibler (Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida) D Danielle Kreeger (Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University) B Brendan S. Lanham (School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne) J Jerome F. La Peyre (School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center) R Ryan J. Lowe (School of Earth and Oceans, Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia) C Cynthia E. M. Lupton (Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University) H Hani Nassif (Rutgers Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers University) W William Mather (WSP Climate, Resiliency and Sustainability) A Andrew W. M. Pomeroy (School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne) E Ella Rothermel (Partnership for the Delaware Estuary) M Michael Ruszala (Rutgers Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers University) M Madhuwanthi Rupasinghe (Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne) F F. Scott Rikard (Auburn University Shellfish Lab, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Science, Auburn University) R Richard E. Riman (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rutgers University) R Rackel San Nicolas (Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne) J Jenny P. Shinn (Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University) P Prashansa Shrestha (Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering, University of Arizona) E Eric L. Sparks (Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University) S Stephen E. Swearer (Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia) J Jyotismita Taye (Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida) N Nigel A. Temple (Department of Civil, Coastal, and Environmental Engineering, The University of South Alabama) M Manisha N. Thenuwara (Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida) P Peter B. Vien (Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida) Z Zhenwei Wang (Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University) M Mason L. Williams (Auburn University Shellfish Lab, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Science, Auburn University) D David Bushek (Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University)

Abstract

Living shorelines that comprise oyster reefs within a mosaic of multiple coastal habitats can be a resilient and adaptive coastal protection alternative to conventional engineered structures. The success of an oyster reef living shoreline depends on the evolution of a stable base substrate that provides initial short-term coastal protection, to the growth of a living oyster reef and associated habitats in the longer-term, which can enhance protection and provide other ecosystem services. Interdisciplinary global teams that include ecologists, biologists, engineers, techno-economists, and industry are leading the development and implementation of innovative reef-based coastal protection (“Reefense”) solutions that can be scaled to face the challenges of climate change.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 15
Published April 14, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (35)

R

Rebecca L. Morris

School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne

J

Jaden E. Akers

Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University

S

Sandra Casas

School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

J

Justin Geldard

School of Earth and Oceans, Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia

A

Alex Goad

Reef Design Lab

M

Marco Ghisalberti

School of Engineering, Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia

X

Ximing Guo

Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University

R

Reid Holland

Rutgers Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers University

H

Hongyue Jin

Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering, University of Arizona

K

Kelly M. Kibler

Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida

D

Danielle Kreeger

Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University

B

Brendan S. Lanham

School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne

J

Jerome F. La Peyre

School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

R

Ryan J. Lowe

School of Earth and Oceans, Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia

C

Cynthia E. M. Lupton

Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University

H

Hani Nassif

Rutgers Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers University

W

William Mather

WSP Climate, Resiliency and Sustainability

A

Andrew W. M. Pomeroy

School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne

E

Ella Rothermel

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

M

Michael Ruszala

Rutgers Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers University

M

Madhuwanthi Rupasinghe

Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne

F

F. Scott Rikard

Auburn University Shellfish Lab, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Science, Auburn University

R

Richard E. Riman

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rutgers University

R

Rackel San Nicolas

Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne

J

Jenny P. Shinn

Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University

P

Prashansa Shrestha

Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering, University of Arizona

E

Eric L. Sparks

Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University

S

Stephen E. Swearer

Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia

J

Jyotismita Taye

Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida

N

Nigel A. Temple

Department of Civil, Coastal, and Environmental Engineering, The University of South Alabama

M

Manisha N. Thenuwara

Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida

P

Peter B. Vien

Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida

Z

Zhenwei Wang

Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University

M

Mason L. Williams

Auburn University Shellfish Lab, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Science, Auburn University

D

David Bushek

Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University