If you’re a connoisseur of oysters, have you wondered what happens to the shells after you finished your plate? Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana Policy director Emily Vuxton said they want to find out what happens to the valuable natural resource once it leaves the waters of the Bayou State, and the legislature has approved such a study.
“That’s not either used by us for restoration, for LDWF for restoration or from oysters’ farmers,” said Vuxton.
Vuxton said they offer a shell recycling program for restaurants. The study will research what happens to shells that do not participate in such programs.
“Some oyster men also reuse their shells as well to rebuild oyster reefs. So we’re trying to understand what happens to the rest of the shell,” said Vuxton.
However, Vuxton fears the majority of shells end up in the trash at restaurants which is unfortunate because they can be used to rebuild reefs to harvest more oysters.
“Or you can take that oyster shell and build reefs that would provide storm protection along the coast,” said Vuxton.
A similar study was done before on oyster shells before hurricane Katrina.
She hopes the study will highlight the value of the shells and people think before they shuck it and chuck it.
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