b'Oyster Shell Recycling & Restoration UnderwayW e have launched an exciting estuarinehabitat in the Lake Worth Lagoon and adjacent enhancement program by establishingwaters in Palm Beach County. The Fishing an oyster shell recycling & restoration programClubs foundation intends to fill that need.We in Palm Beach County. While similar recyclingare just getting the program started.There are programs exist in other regions, no such programquite a few logistics associated with establish-is in place in Palm Beach County. We have theing an oyster shell recycling program including support of The Breakers Resort in Palm Beachshell storage, transportation, and deployment. (source of the shell), MacArthur Beach StateIn years past fishing club members have partici-Park (location of oyster shell curing station)pated in oyster restoration efforts including shell and funding support through the Palm Beachbagging events and reef building projects.Once County Fishing Foundation (PBCFF) and private donors. Thewe have built up an inventory of cured shells, we reasons for recycling oyster shells are many. Most restaurantswill employ a restoration method called Vertical Oyster Gardens throw their oyster shells away. The shells have a far better use(VOG).These strings of then to end up in a landfill. Recycled oyster shells provide theshells are suspended in the ideal substrate for the recruitment of new oysters. Oysters arewater column underneath considered a keystone species and provide valuable ecosystemdocks and other structures services. They are amazing filter-feeders and can clean largeat an elevation where other volumes of water over a relatively short period of time helpingoysters are already pres-rid estuaries of excess nutrients and fine sediment. Oyster reefsent.The opportunity to provide critical habitat for a wide variety fish, invertebrates,increase oyster abundance and other wildlife. Additionally, oyster reefs can help stabilizeusing this technique is shorelines and minimize coastal erosion. significant. VOGs can be Oysters have been severely impacted by coastal developmentplaced at pre-determined and degraded water quality. There is a need to enhance oystersites in our waterways by partnering with water-front homeowners.Be-cause they are suspended VOGs are not as vulner-able to sedimentation or predation by oyster drills (a predatory snail).Oyster shell recycling and VOG deployment events are ideally suited for getting stakeholders, especially young people, invested in environmental restoration.As this program progresses there will be opportunities to hold environmental out-reach events at the West Palm Beach Fishing Club and MacArthur Beach State Park. The PBCFF is uniquely posi-tioned to initiate and co-ordinate an oyster shell recycling & restoration programwe intend to recycle oyster shells, use them for restoration, and help clean Palm Beach County waterways one oyster at a time.It wont solve all our water woes, but it will help.Call the Fishing Club if youd like to be involved (561) 832-6780.54 W estP almB eachF ishingc luB'