Georgia is home to approximately a third of the remaining coastal salt marshes along the U.S. East Coast. Intertidal oysters are a keystone species in the coastal ecosystem. By filtering through algae and other pollutants, the presence of dense oyster populations can significantly improve water quality.
According to UGA’s Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, intertidal reefs “provide a hard substrate in the otherwise soft, muddy substrates of Georgia’s estuaries for oyster larvae and other organisms to settle, attach and grow.” The reefs protect coastal salt marshes, as well, by dissipating energy from boats and waves. In addition, oysters are a primary food source for crabs, anemones, fish and even flatworms. Unfortunately, the prevalence of over-harvesting, disease and habitat loss in recent years has led to a steep decline in oyster populations.
Athens-based nonprofit shell recycling organization Shell to Shore aims to change this trajectory and to restore the coastal habitats of Georgia. Shell to Shore, an initiative that started among friends almost four years ago, collects and recycles oyster shells around the state of Georgia to reuse in sustainability projects along the coast. Working with restaurants in Athens and Atlanta, such as Five and Ten, Seabear Oyster Bar and Miller Union, Shell to Shore gathers oyster shells on a weekly basis to cure and eventually reintroduce back into the Georgia crystal waters. Shells are stored in a facility at Skidaway Island outside of Savannah, where they are cured for at least six months. Afterwards, they are used to build living shorelines and oyster reefs. This green infrastructure helps protect the coastline by mitigating erosion and flooding from sea-level rise and storm surges. These projects also raise public awareness on the importance of oyster reef habitats.
While Shell to Shore’s first conservation project is still in its planning phase, the group has chosen Sapelo Island as its beneficiary. In the weeks past, board members, UGA hydrologists and volunteers have analyzed the condition of the waters around Sapelo by measuring the level of larva present. The richer the area is with larva, the more likely that future oyster reefs will form. These teams will travel back to ensure that enough larva are moving in the waters before dropping the shell bundles.
Besides preservation efforts, Shell to Shore is devoted to educating communities on the benefits of shell recycling. With the Georgia Department of Natural Resources spearheading most projects, the organization’s outreach has naturally grown. In 2023, the group collected almost 73,000 pounds of oyster shells. Shell recycling coordinator and board member Malcolm Provost says that the collaboration between several different groups allows Shell to Shore to share its knowledge with a broader public.
“Each one of these entities—the government, higher education, us and our restaurant partners, as well as the farmers on the coast—all cooperate and work together to create a cohesive network and basis of knowledge,” Provost says. “Oyster restaurants are all over Georgia, and we’d love to connect with them and bring them into our sphere of influence.”
As the organization grows, Provost sees the potential for expansion. He says that the team is currently discussing creating a hub in Atlanta, seeing the many opportunities for shell collection in the city. This hub is said to run itself in the long run, but starting up, it will require help from volunteers, which Shell to Shore is always happy to accept.
Outside of volunteering, Shell to Shore encourages individuals to simply donate their used shells rather than throwing them away. For anyone who is interested in recycling their own shells, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has launched a map at coastalgadnr.org/ShellRecycling detailing all recycling centers available in the state.
On Apr. 21, Shell to Shore will be hosting its third annual ShellFest celebration and fundraiser at the Bottleworks on Prince Avenue from 3–7 p.m. The event will feature live music, raw and steamed oyster bars, local cocktails, and beer and wine. The funds gathered will be used toward sustaining Shell to Shore’s state-wide shell recycling operations all year long. Tickets are $75 for general admission and $150 for VIP admission, which includes an additional happy hour at Hendershot’s with “bites and bevs” from the Vietnamese pop-up Pretty Boy.
WHAT: ShellFest
WHEN: Sunday, Apr. 21, 3–7 p.m.
WHERE: Bottleworks
HOW MUCH: $75–150
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