A QUESTION WE OFTEN HEAR IS, IF THE OYSTER RECOVERY PARTNERSHIP IS WORKING TO RESTORE THE OYSTER POPULATION, THEN WHY DO THEY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EAT THEM? 

The answer is simple. Shell recycling and oyster farming have been identified as powerful strategies for oyster restoration and Chesapeake Bay recovery.

MORE THAN 95 PERCENT OF THE OYSTERS CONSUMED IN RESTAURANTS ARE FARM-RAISED.

Produced strictly for consumption, farm-raised oysters provide the same water quality benefits as wild oysters, support the demand for sustainable seafood and supply the commercial seafood industry with year-round product.

ADDITIONALLY, WE NEED MORE SHELL TO CREATE OYSTER REEFS. 

In the Chesapeake Bay, oyster shell is the best material on which to rebuild oyster reefs, but it’s also a limited natural resource. To fulfill this critical need and keep shell out of local landfills, we established the Shell Recycling Alliance, a regional network of restaurants and seafood suppliers who recycle their shell. ORP collects the shell and uses it to restore reefs with hatchery-produced oysters.

Click HERE to learn more about our shell recycling program.