About 140 million oysters are now living on 43 acres of newly created oyster reefs. Photo: N.C. Coastal Federation The North Carolina Coastal Federation and partners nearly tripled their goal to restore 50 million oysters in coastal waters. Through its 50 Million Oyster Initiative to build acres of new oyster reef and support at least 50 million oysters, there are now 140 million oysters on 43 acres of newly created oyster reefs in coastal North Carolina. Oyster sanctuaries are areas dedicated to oyster repopulation that are open to fishing but not harvest. The adult oysters in the sanctuary will produce spat, or oyster larvae, that drift and attach to other oyster reefs.