A pilot oyster shell reclamation project is starting in Franklin County, and all local restaurants are urged to take part.
The program is called O.Y.S.T.E.R., which is an acronym for Offer Your Shell To Enhance Restoration.
The program will recycle oyster shells from participating restaurants and use them in coastal restoration projects.
Currently, most of the shells from the oysters consumed at restaurants end up in the landfill.
The Oyster Corps will pick up oyster shells from restaurants and recycle them in restoration projects.
Participating restaurants are supplied with lidded 5-gallon buckets and are asked to save the top shell from the oysters they shuck.
The Oyster Corps will pick up the discarded shells twice per week and leave clean buckets.
The shells will be cured and used in the Franklin 98 Project, which includes building nearshore artificial structures like breakwaters to decrease wave energy.
This will help protect the Highway 98 shoreline between Eastpoint and Carrabelle.
The shells also will go to the Florida State University Coastal and Marine Lab for the Apalachicola Bay Systems Initiative for research to help with restoring Apalachicola Bay.
Participating restaurants include The Station Raw Bar and Half Shell Dockside at Scipio Creek in Apalachicola, Paddy’s Raw Bar on St. George Island, Lynn’s Quality Oysters in Eastpoint and Fathoms in Carrabelle.
If you would like to become a participating restaurant, please contact Anita Grove at the research reserve Anita.Grove@FloridaDEP.gov or call 850-653-5951.
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