Description
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary has been collecting oyster shells from Wilmington area restaurants since early 2016. Generally, spent oyster shells go to landfills, but with their recycling program, shells are going back to the Delaware Bay.
Oyster shells are important for baby oysters and the entire aquatic ecosystem. Oysters are ecosystem engineers and a keystone species in the Delaware Bay. These awesome shellfish not only filter the water, but oyster reefs are important habitat for lots of local wildlife. By returning oyster shells back to the Delaware Bay, a habitat for juvenile oysters to settle on can be created. Recycled oyster shells need to be put into bags to use in local living shoreline installations. The process is time consuming, so the Estuary needs volunteers like you! It is a little messy and a bit physical, so be prepared!
Who: Anyone age 15 or over! (Children under 18 need parental consent prior to participating, and those under 16 would need a parent present during the event)
What: Putting recycled oyster shells into bags for use in Delaware Bay shoreline restoration projects.
What to Bring: Weather dependent clothing, close toed shoes, gloves (if don’t have your own, we’ll have some available), water, and snacks
Please contact Leah Morgan ([email protected]) for any additional questions.