Delaware Center for the Inland Bays

Indian River Inlet: The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays (CIB) was awarded a grant for $23,450 from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s (DNREC) Universal Recycling Grant and Loan Program to launch “Don’t Chuck Your Shucks,” a program to recycle oyster shell for restoration projects on the Inland Bays.

In addition to DNREC, Brian Boutin, Director of Conservation Programs for the Delaware Chapter of the Nature Conservancy (TNC) has pledged their support to contribute funds and other resources to the project.

For years, oyster shell has been used to build roads, driveways and houses, with unused shell going to landfills.  But today, the shells are an increasingly scarce natural resource sought after for shellfish restoration. The recycled shell will be used for living shorelines projects, restoration of ‘bay bottom,’ the Oyster Gardening program, and research projects.

Beginning in June, the CIB will partner with area restaurants to collect oyster shells for recycling; modeled on successful programs in other east coast states, but a first for Delaware.  

The shells will be picked up and transported to bins where they will be unloaded and left to cure. “During the peak summer season, we hope to recycle 10 thousand pounds of shell per week; putting what had gone to a landfill to good use,” said E.J. Chalabala, Aquatic Restoration Coordinator for the CIB.

The Inland Bays once supported an abundant population of oysters that was lost decades ago due to disease and pollution.  But over the past eleven years, the Oyster Gardening program, a joint project of the CIB and Delaware Sea Grant, has demonstrated that oysters will now thrive in all three Inland Bays.

Because a single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water each day, removing nutrients that are the greatest pollution threat to the Bays, a restored oyster population in the Inland Bays could greatly improve water quality.  In addition, oyster beds are important habitats that support many other bay species

The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays is a non-profit organization established in 1994 to promote the wise use and enhancement of the Inland Bays and its watershed.  With its many partners, the CIB conducts public outreach and education, develops and implements restoration projects, encourages scientific inquiry and sponsors research.  For more information call Sally Boswell at 226-8105, or email at outreach@inlandbays.org  or, go to our website at www.inlandbays.org