New partnership helps recycle over 25 tons of oyster shells from Pensacola Beach restaurants

PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. ( WKRG ) — Pensacola's love for oysters is no secret. But one organization is stepping up to get the oyster shells from your plate back into the water.

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The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program launched The Oyster Alliance in August.

PPBEP and their partners are teaming up with Pensacola Beach restaurants to collect their shucked oyster shells.

The shells are then cured and eventually, the clean, recycled shells will return to area waters for restoration projects.

"We're helping build back that three-dimensional reef that we used to have when we had healthy oyster reefs," PPBEP Community Outreach Coordinator Logan McDonald said. "They've been flattened over time. So giving them the structure for other oysters to grow on is going to help sustain those oyster reefs over time."

In just over two months, more than 25 tons of oyster shells have been recycled.

"Without a project like this to help restore those reefs, we're going to continue to see a decline in Pensacola Bay oysters," McDonald said.

The hope is to bring back a once-thriving commercial industry and improve water quality.

"An adult oyster, it's estimated they can filter about a whole bathtub worth of water a day," McDonald said. "So just think about that scaled up and the impact that can have for the waters we love to enjoy here as well."

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Currently, local participating restaurants include Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, The Grand Marlin, Peg Leg Pete's and Red Fish Blue Fish.

PPBEP said they hope to expand their program to more restaurants beyond Pensacola Beach.