A new partnership in the Pensacola region is ensuring oysters consumed in local restaurants are recycled to support future coastal restoration projects in Pensacola and Perdido Bays.
In August, the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) launched The Oyster Alliance, a partnership of restaurants, nonprofits, academic programs, and government agencies. The Oyster Alliance partners with area restaurants to collect shucked oyster shells, cure them, and eventually return the clean recycled shell to area waters.
The Oyster Alliance has already collected over 25 tons (50,680 lbs) of oyster shells as of October 2024 – the equivalent weight of a fully loaded semi-truck. Pensacola’s love for oysters is no secret – and the numbers certainly prove it.
HOW IT WORKS: Recycled oyster shell provides ideal substrate for new oyster growth, supporting recovery of the local oyster population while eliminating 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 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to create a regional, sustainable oyster shell recycling alliance. The Gulf of Mexico Community-based Oyster Shell Recycling and Reef Restoration Network, administered by Restore America’s Estuaries, includes a partnership of organizations located across the Gulf Coast to advance oyster shell recycling and restoration, including The Oyster Alliance administered by PPBEP.
OysterCorps, a nationally recognized Conservation Corps Program led by Franklin’s Promise Coalition, plays a key role in the Alliance and supports shell recycling collection and outreach on behalf of PPBEP. As a dual environmental restoration and workforce training initiative, the program engages local youth in coastal restoration and resilience projects such as oyster habitat, seagrass, dune systems, and tidal marsh restoration. At the same time, Corps members gain on-the-job training, industry certifications, academic programming, leadership skills, and support to become environmental stewards.
Local Participating Restaurants:
Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar
The Grand Marlin
Peg Leg Pete’s
Red Fish Blue Fish
Local Partners:
Oyster Corps/ Franklin’s Promise Coalition
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority
Pensacola State College
Escambia County
Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance
Restore America’s Estuaries
Santa Rosa County
While restaurants participating in The Oyster Alliance are currently limited to Pensacola Beach, the Alliance hopes to grow 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.
