Oyster Shell Recycling

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana is excited to announce the newest addition to its Community-Based Restoration Program – the Oyster Shell Recycling Program.

This innovative program will be the first of its kind in Louisiana, and will recycle discarded shells from New Orleans-area restaurants and stockpile them for use in future oyster reef restoration work. The program is currently in its pilot stage, but the Program Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing its expansion. The program promotes creating sustainable, native oyster habitat that will clean and filter coastal waters, provide habitat for coastal fisheries, and stabilize our shoreline.

Restaurant participation is critical to the success of the program. Restaurants that have currently signed on to donate shell are Acme Oyster House and Drago’s Seafood Restaurant.

Oyster reefs are vital to the health and protection of our coastal landscape. Louisiana produces up to one-third of the nation’s oysters, but we are one of the only oyster-producing states to not have a shell recycling program.

The program is made possible thanks to a generous donation from Shell. Additional support also comes from NOAA, Restore America’s Estuaries, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Shell is collected from participating restaurants and will be cured for a minimum of 6 months to ensure that the sun bleaches the shell and kills any bacteria and disease. Shell will then be used in restoration projects aimed at stabilizing Louisiana’s shorelines and preserving oyster reefs.

For more information on CRCL’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program please contact:

Hilary Collis
Restoration Program Director

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225-767-4181