(Above) PenderWatch & Conservancy Board member Jack Spruill delivers shell to the Washington Ackers staging area.

Photos and Story by Alan Cradick

Topsail Island, NC - We all know what to do with oysters—eat them. What many of us do not know, is what to do with the shells. We have all seen oyster shell used in driveways and parking lots.  Homeowners use them as garden borders and paths.  While this may be an effective use for shell, it is not the best use for them.

Oyster shell, and any other shell you may have, should be recycled.  Recycled shell is collected by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries and is used to create shell reefs in our coastal waters.  Oysters begin life as free-swimming organisms looking for a hard surface to settle on to grow.  The best surface for them is oyster shell. Harvesting oysters removes the nesting material needed for a healthy reef.  Returning shell to the reefs maintains the reef as a natural habitat for their growth.

Oysters are not the only species that benefit from our coastal oyster reefs.  Oyster reefs act as nurseries for many estuarine species.  A short list includes:  black sea bass, black drum, flounder, mussels, red drum, shrimp, speckled trout, striped bass, and turtles. These species, and many others, begin life in the protection and nutrient-rich habitat of the oyster reef.  In addition to providing a safe haven for aquatic species, oysters are filter-feeders and help to clean the inshore waters of the coast. The establishment of healthy reefs benefits anyone who enjoys North Carolina seafood and the recreational opportunities offered by our beaches and waterways.

(Above) PenderWatch & Conservancy Shell Recycling point at Herring’s Outdoor Sports in Surf City (left) and Surf City Ace Hardware (right) on Hwy. 50 just over the swing bridge in mainland Surf City.

Recycling is easy. Simply bring your shell to one of the collection points and dump it into the bin. In Pender County, thanks to our partners, PenderWatch & Conservancy has established four collection points:  1) Ace Hardware at 14021 Highway 50; 2) Herring’s Outdoor Sports at 701 New River Drive; 3) Hampstead Ace Hardware on Highway 17; and 4) Mako’s Raw Bar & Grille at 55 Scotts Hill Loop Road.  Remember to show your appreciation for their participation by giving our partners your business.  If you are having an oyster roast or clam bake, we will deliver a recycling bin to your site and pick it up the next day. 

Collected shell is held at staging areas along the coast.  In springtime, when the water is warm enough for oyster reproduction, the collected shell is returned to the reefs. All of the shell collected in Pender County will be returned to county waters.

Need more information? Visit the website of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries at www.ncdmf.net.  If you would like to arrange for your own collection point, an onsite bin for a single event, or more information on PenderWatch & Conservancy, contact Alan Cradick at vufinder@mac.com, 910.270.9316 or Jack Spruill at jsprll@aol.com, 910.270.3140.

ALAN CRADICK is a photographer and environmentalist who moved to SE North Carolina three years ago.  Retired from the U.S. Coast Guard, Alan became active in environmental issues while living the Florida Keys.  After moving to this area, he has become active with several regional and state-wide environmental groups, including PenderWatch & Conservancy where he serves on the Board of Directors.