oyster shell recycling Information2

Why recycle oyster shell?

• • Oysters and oyster reefs help improve water quality, provide ideal fish habitat, buffer against storm surge, and support the local economy.

  • Louisiana produces approximately one third of the nation’s oysters.

  • Louisiana currently experiences a 60% shell deficit – in that the majority of shell removed from the coast is not returned to coastal waters.

How will the shell be used?

• • CRCL Volunteers will bag and deploy shell along eroding shorelines to help protect shorelines and build reefs.

  • Shell will be donated to facilitate the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries oyster reef aquaculture research.

Shell is collected by local recycling company, Phoenix Recycling.

The program is expanding! CRCL is recruiting more New Orleans restaurants interested in recycling shell with collection set to begin this summer.