Our mission is to restore native Olympia oysters through the power of recycled shells. An oyster shell is a valuable resource, yet it usually goes to waste. Because oysters are almost always sold alive in their shells, restaurants that serve oysters have an abundant supply of shells that can be recycled. We team up with restaurants in the Bay to collect their oyster shells as part of our Save Your Shucks program. These shells are absolutely crucial to our restoration efforts because oyster larvae prefer settling on other oyster shells - that’s how beautiful oyster reefs are created over time!

Olympia oysters are a keystone species of the Bay ecosystem. We still have wild Olympia oysters in the Bay, but at 1% of their historic population. We work to place these shells back into the water in various ways to restore the health and balance of the Bay's ecosystem. Using oyster shells donated by restaurants, we can create artificial oyster reefs that provide more places for oysters to hang their spat!

Not only are these shells important for marine habitats, but oysters are also one of the most sustainable animals you can eat. Oyster farms filter the surrounding water and create habitat for all kinds of life. So by serving and eating local oysters, we can support the environment and our work! Let's put our shells back to work after enjoying their tasty bite of the ocean.

How The Partnership Works

1. We provide two 5 gallon shell collection buckets for airtight storage.

2. A Save Your Shucks volunteer picks up these shells from the restaurant once a week and transports them to one of our curing sites at either Bay Natives nursery or the REAP Climate Center.

3. We promote our partnership through social media and various outlets, as well as through events with our community.

if you are a restaurant looking to donate shells, A volunteer interested in picking up shells, or if you have some land that can provide a space to cure a big pile of shells, contact us!