Marine scientist and content creator Kaysha Kenney leads a program recycling oyster shells to restore reefs and strengthen coastal ecosystems
NEED TO KNOW
- Marine scientist Kaysha Kenney leads a program recycling oyster shells to restore reefs and strengthen coastal ecosystems
- Her viral TikToks showcase the labor-intensive process of collecting, curing, and reusing over 24,000 pounds of shells
- Kenney hopes to inspire ocean conservation by highlighting the critical role oyster reefs play in ecosystem health and resiliency
When Kaysha Kenney first began collecting discarded oyster shells from local restaurants, the entire operation fit inside three large wooden storage boxes.
Now, just a few years later, the marine scientist and creator is standing in front of what she describes as an “oyster field” containing more than 24,000 pounds of shells — and the pile keeps growing every week.
“We originally had our shells stored in these three large wooden boxes,” Kenney, 31, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “We started to quickly outgrow that storage.”…