Oysters

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation recently finished restoring a three-acre reef in San Carlos Bay at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River with six million pounds of ancient oyster and mollusk shells from a mine near Babcoack Ranch

Ancient shells bring new oysters to reef rebuilt in mouth of Caloosahatchee River

Tom Bayles

Six million pounds of ancient oyster shells from a Charlotte County mine are now a thriving 3-acre reef in the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River. It is among the latest oyster reefs restored by the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.

The Coastal Conservation Association Florida partnered with Ingman Marine, Abbott Construction, Lee Reefs, Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association (GICIA), Capt. Jay Withers, Clermont Oyster Bar and Lake County to carry out the deployment of four tons of recycled oyster shells for the Turtle Bay Oyster Reef in Charlotte Harbor on Thursday.

Environment

Four tons of recycled oyster shells placed at Turtle Bay Oyster Reef

WGCU Staff

Four dump truck loads of recycled oyster shells were deposited in Charlotte Harbor Thursday as part of the Turtle Bay Oyster Reef project.

Forty tons of recycled oyster shells being transported to Turtle Bay in Charlotte Harbor were later scooped into the water along an existing oyster reef restoration project that has benefits to the marine environment far beyond that to the oyster population

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Recycled oyster shells placed in Charlotte's Turtle Bay: Clean water, larger oyster reef among the goals

Tom Bayles

Collecting, cleaning, and recycling clam and oyster shells to restore and create new reefs is a growing volunteer movement in Florida to enhance and protect coastal ecosystems, improve water quality, and protect shorelines from erosion