Reinstating a natural cycle

To help reinvigorate this natural cycle, we set up a shell recycling project we call Shuck Don’t Chuck. Here’s how it works:

Firstly we collect used oyster, mussel and scallop shells from restaurants, venues and seafood wholesalers in areas alongside some of our reef restoration projects.

from restaurants, venues and seafood wholesalers in areas alongside some of our reef restoration projects. Secondly, the shells are cured to kill off any diseases by laying them out in the sun for a few months.

by laying them out in the sun for a few months. When they’re ready they are bagged up and taken to our reef restoration sites .

. Finally as part of the reef construction process, the tonnes of recycled shells are spread over limestone rubble we’ve already placed on the seafloor as a ‘settlement substrate’ for juvenile oysters to cement onto.

This technique has been used successfully by The Nature Conservancy in the United States and around the world for more than 15 years.