Baltimore adopts “No Shell Left Behind” recycling program

We all know that you can recycle pop cans and newspapers, but a new bill in Maryland is giving people to incentive to recycle oyster shells. The “No Shell Left Behind” bill will give Maryland residents the opportunity to receive $750 per year in tax credits. Oysters are a big business in Maryland and many other states, but as people gobble them up and throw away the shells, it's leaving a short supply for hatcheries. The infant oysters like to attach themselves to the adult shells, but due to the short supply, there aren't enough adult shells.

Hatcheries, wholesalers and restoration organizations such as the Oyster Recovery Partnership asked the state legislature to help with restoration efforts. The bill allows for $1 per bushel tax credit for recycling oyster shells for up to $750 per year. While this won’t likely impact regular people, it could be just the incentive for restaurants to keep thousands of oyster shells out of the landfill.

Oyster restoration is becoming a major issue as populations of both harvested and natural oysters are declining at a rapid rate. Hatcheries provide a controlled growth of oysters, but the lack of adult shells mixed with people harvesting them from the ocean is dramatically decreasing populations. Over harvesting and the destruction of their natural habitats are leaving their numbers dwindling.

The “No Shell Left Behind Bill” will help with oyster seeding, which creates a substrate of adult oyster shells for the young to attach to. Seeding is only done when there isn't enough of an adult population to sustain the young oysters.

Seeding may have an impact on natural plant life such as eel grass, a underwater grass that spreads by roots and provides a habitat and nursery grounds for several species. The seeding may actually be good for the grass, allowing for better water quality. The "No Shells Left Behind Bill" could be a model for other states such as California who are also seeing a decrease in populations. 

Photo courtesy of Restoration Fund