In New England, the summer brings seafood delights, yet discarded oyster shells are typically thrown away instead of recycled. Connecticut's Tim Macklin and a partner have initiated a program to collect these shells from restaurants, dry them, and return them to aquatic environments where they can foster oyster larvae, support reef formation, and enhance marine ecosystems. This program is part of a larger movement aimed at reversing the decline of oyster populations due to overharvesting and environmental degradation, showcasing innovative local solutions to ecological problems.
Oyster larvae attach to shells, where they grow into adults and form reefs that improve water quality, prevent coastal erosion and create habitat for other marine life.
Two men in Connecticut are working to fix that. They've started a statewide program to collect discarded shells from local restaurants, dry them and return them to Long Island Sound for restoration projects.
It's one of several shell recycling programs that have emerged to help reverse the steep decline in oyster populations along U.S. coastlines.
We fill that missing piece, said Tim Macklin, a co-founder of Collective Oyster Recycling & Restoration, the nonprofit group leading the effort.
Collection
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