Instead of throwing away empty oyster shells, local restaurants across Galveston, Clear Lake and Houston are helping Galveston Bay Foundation put the shells back in the water to serve as a new home for baby oysters. The effort comes amid a growing need for oyster restoration across the Texas Coast.
An oyster shell recycling program out of Galveston Bay is trying to restore the local population after years of setbacks.
The effort comes amid a growing need for oyster restoration across the Texas Coast.
Sally Clark, the director of habitat restoration for the Galveston Bay Foundation, said oysters in Galveston have suffered in recent years. According to Clark, Hurricane Ike smothered up to 60% of the reefs. Then, years of droughts and floods added to the population’s uncertainty by causing fluctuations in water salinity…