The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is halfway toward its goal of collecting 3,000 bushels of oyster shells — with a June 30 deadline looming.
The foundation is asking locals and Virginia restaurants to help reach its goal by donating their oyster shells after meals.
The oyster shells are needed to build this year's new oyster reefs, the foundation said.
“Empty oyster shells are a scarce resource that are used as the foundation of new oyster reefs,” said CBF Oyster Restoration Specialist Heather North.
“The restaurants and seafood lovers who donate empty shells after meals are a key part of the comeback of the Chesapeake Bay oysters we all enjoy. It’s crucial that more restaurants participate to keep up momentum.”
Donating shells supports efforts by the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance to add 10 billion new oysters to the Bay by 2025.
Shortage of shells would setback progress in bringing back Virginia’s native oyster.
According to the foundation, each recycled shell can eventually become home to more than a dozen baby oysters, called spat.
Any restaurant that serves oysters can sign up to participate, and local residents can also donate shells after oyster roasts and meals by dropping them off at numerous public shell recycling bins across Hampton Roads, the Middle Peninsula, and the Northern Neck, the foundation said.
The shells are cleaned and placed into tanks containing millions of microscopic oyster larvae, which then attach to the shells.
To sign up, call 757-644-4125, or e-mail OysterGardener@cbf.org.
Those interested in donating shell can find public bin locations and public restaurants here.
