Shell Bank: Oyster shell recycling, community involvement, student institute, and oyster response to environmental change

Summary

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) will continue the oyster shell recycling program. TAMU-CC developed the program to reclaim and recycle shucked oyster shells from Coastal Bend restaurants, seafood wholesalers, and seafood festivals for use in reef restoration. At two community-based oyster restoration events, volunteers will fill mesh bags with reclaimed oyster shells to create reef building blocks. In the future, the shell bags will be used to build oyster reef at Goose Island State Park to protect and stabilize the eroding marsh for living shoreline restoration activities. TAMU-CC will develop and offer habitat conservation and restoration-based modules for students and detect and define the effects of environmental stressors on oyster growth.