If you walk into a seafood restaurant in Coastal Alabama, it’s almost guaranteed that you will see oysters on the menu. It would be a shame if all those shells ended up being wasted, right? Luckily, that is not the case thanks to the Alabama Coastal Foundation.
The Alabama Coastal Foundation has created an Oyster Shell Recycling Program with participating restaurants along the beach. The shells are collected and then placed outside for six months to cure. The advisory committee then decides when and where to place the shells back in the water.
Placing the shells back into the water
- Improves water quality. An adult oyster filters about 15 gallons of water per day.
- Provides habitat. Oyster reefs can be used as a home for fish, shrimp and other sea creatures.
- Limits erosion. Oyster reefs are natural breakwaters that protect shorelines.
- Helps sustain and increase oyster populations. The shell is used as a surface for baby oysters to grow.
As of July 20, 2022, Alabama Coastal Foundation has collected 18,759,000 shells through their program. That’s 294 dump trucks filled, and is equal to the weight of 390 elephants!
Head to the ACF website to learn more about the Oyster Shell Recycling Program, find out how to volunteer, and discover which Alabama restaurants participate.