Shucking for Sustainability

The Oyster Alliance Recycles Over 25 Tons of Oyster Shells

by Morgan Cole

It’s no secret that oysters are a staple in the Florida Panhandle. Not only do they play a crucial role in the ecosystem, they also contribute to the local economy by supporting the commercial finishing industry.

Thanks to a newly launched partnership program, one local organization is stepping up to bring the oysters shells left on your plate back into the water.

The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) and its partners are teaming up with Pensacola Beach restaurants to collect their shucked oyster shells.

The PPBEP is a regional, stakeholder-driven, science-based organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the Pensacola and Perdido Bay systems and their associated watersheds through restoration, education and monitoring.

In August, the PPBEP launched a new partnership program consisting of local restaurants, nonprofits, education programs and government agencies called the Oyster Alliance to ensure that oysters consumed in local restaurants are recycled back into the water to support future coastal restoration projects in Pensacola and Perdido Bays.

Through this program, area restaurants can partner with the Oyster Alliance to collect and cure their shucked oyster shells, eventually returning the clean recycled shells to our local waters.

The program’s ultimate goal is to improve water quality and bring back a once-thriving commercial industry.

“The Oyster Alliance is far more than just a recycling program—it’s a commitment to bringing Pensacola and Perdido Bays’ oyster habitats back to life. Every shell saved becomes a stepping stone toward healthier coastal ecosystems and stronger, more resilient communities,” PPBEP Executive Director Matt Posner said.

Oysters in the Pensacola and Perdido Bay watershed, which extends from Orange Beach, Alabama to Okaloosa County, are in “critical decline” due to a variety of environmental factors such as overharvesting, declining water quality and increased sedimentation in local bays from stormwater runoff.

With nearly half of the United States’ $250 million oyster industry based on the Gulf Coast, oysters support the livelihoods of fishermen, oyster farmers and seafood processors, generating income for restaurants and the local tourism industry.

As a keystone species, oysters play a crucial role in supporting the natural ecosystem. They act as natural water filters, improving water quality by removing pollutants and excess nutrients. Under certain conditions, a single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, according to NOAA Fisheries.

Oyster reef formations also provide vital habitats and nursery grounds for crabs, shrimp and fish such as flounder and striped bass. Many marine species and shore birds rely on oysters for food.

Recycled oyster shells also provide an ideal substrate for new oyster growth, supporting the recovery of the local oyster population, while eliminating the disposal of shell to local landfills—a cost savings to local restaurants.

Funded by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grant to Restore America’s Estuaries, the Oyster Alliance builds on a legacy of past efforts to create a regional sustainable oyster shell recycling alliance in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

The Oyster Alliance also receives support from a number of environmental organizations and coalitions from across the region, including the Gulf of Mexico Community-based Oyster Shell Recycling and Reef Restoration Network. Administered by Restore America’s Estuaries, this program consists of a partnership of organizations located across the Gulf Coast to help advance oyster shell recycling and restoration initiatives, including the Oyster Alliance administered by PPBEP.

OysterCorps, a nationally recognized Conservation Corps Program, also plays a key role in The Oyster Alliance program and supports shell recycling, collection and outreach on behalf of PPBEP. As a dual environmental restoration and workforce training initiative, OysterCorps engages local youth in coastal restoration and resilience projects such as oyster habitat, seagrass, dune systems and tidal marsh restoration.

Corps members also gain on-the-job training, industry certifications, academic programming, leadership skills and support to become environmental stewards.

“Working alongside OysterCorps, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties and the incredible support of local restaurants and their diners, the Oyster Alliance showcases the power of community partnerships. Together, we’re transforming simple actions into meaningful, lasting change for our environment and our future,” Posner said.

Already making an impressive impact, The Oyster Alliance has collected more than 25 tons (50,680 lbs) of oyster shells since October 2024—the equivalent weight of a fully loaded semi-truck. Pensacola’s love for oysters is no secret, and these numbers certainly prove it.

“The best part of oyster shell recycling is the community gets to be part of the solution, and it’s as easy as enjoying a delicious oyster dinner. Whether you love them poached, grilled, Rockefeller-style, or raw with a squeeze of lemon (like me), every bite helps the restoration effort when you dine at participating restaurants,” PPBEP Coastal Restoration Coordinator Paige Lansky said.

Participating Pensacola Beach restaurants include Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar, The Grand Marlin, Peg Leg Pete’s and Red Fish Blue Fish.

Other local partners supporting the Oyster Alliance include Oyster Corps/Franklin’s Promise Coalition, Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, Pensacola State College, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and Restore America’s Estuaries.

While restaurants participating in the Oyster Alliance are currently limited to Pensacola Beach, the program hopes to expand to include more local partners in the future.

In the meantime, every shell recycled from participating restaurants will help local efforts to restore the Pensacola Bay area’s once thriving oyster population.

On December 9, The U.S. House passed the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act.

Once signed by President Joe Biden, the legislation will serve to direct the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to formally enroll the PPBEP into the National Estuary Program and designate Pensacola and Perdido Bays as “estuaries of national significance.”

Once signed, the PPBEP will be the first agency in 30 years to receive the coveted designation of National Estuary Program.

The National Estuary Program was established by Congress in 1987 as part of the Clean Water Act in response to threatened estuaries along the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts and in Puerto Rico.

As the 29th established program, PPBEP would receive a direct annual federal allocation and become eligible for millions in grant funding from the EPA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of the Interior and more.

Receiving several grants from NOAA this year alone, including one for $11 million for the oyster restoration initiative in Pensacola Bay, the PPBEP has certainly seen its share of success without the national program designation.

For more information on the Oyster Alliance or the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program, visit ppbep.org.