UsingTrash to Save the Bay

Shells Returned to the Chesapeake Bay Improve Ecosystem, Result in Cleaner Water 

Annapolis Seafood Market, a trusted distributor of high-quality seafood products to the Annapolis area, has partnered with the Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP) to collect used oyster shells -- a limited natural resource -- from their stores and participating restaurants to help promote the expansion of oyster beds in the Chesapeake Bay. As part of their program, Annapolis Seafood Market will display educational signage inside each store for their customers to learn how they can participate in this important recycling effort.

"Partnering with Annapolis Seafood Market is a fantastic opportunity as it allows us to leverage their existing relationships and delivery routes to maximize the number of shells collected and expand our reach," said Stephan Abel, Executive Director for the Oyster Recovery Partnership. "To meet our restoration goals, it is critical that a greater number of shells be recycled for reseeding and we hope this alliance will encourage increased participation in the coming year."

Not only critical to the Bay’s fishing industry, mature oysters contribute to the health and cleanliness of the water by filtering over 50 gallons per day per oyster. By collecting used shells, the Oyster Recovery Partnership is able to transport them to the Horn Point Lab Oyster Hatchery in Cambridge, MD to be reseeded with spat (baby oysters) in an effort to help repopulate the Bay’s oyster population which has been drastically reduced in the last 100 years due to overfishing and other environmental causes.

Research institutions also get used shell to use in oyster research, and in restorations efforts.  I've used them on several occasions.  It's a worthwhile project.

But you wouldn't believe how bad a pile of recently shucked oyster shells smell after a couple weeks.