Oyster Shell Recycling Program

Populations of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) have been in long-term decline throughout much of its range, including New Hampshire. Hence, oysters are a major concern of coastal managers in many areas. In New Hampshire, state and federal agencies have ongoing programs concerned with the overall health of oyster populations. Our laboratory currently has five ongoing oyster restoration projects that are collaborative efforts with the NH Fish and Game Department, NH Estuaries Project, the Nature Conservancy, and the City of Dover. A major obstacle that has been identified for future work on these projects, and others that are in the planning stages, is a shortage of oyster shell used for remote setting of hatchery-reared larvae. In order to supply these restoration efforts with a native source of cultch (oyster shell), we have established an oyster shell recycling program in cooperation with NH Sea Grant, UNH Cooperative Extension, and Jackson Estuarine Laboratory.

We would like to invite you to participate by donating your shell at an easily accessible site on Adams Point, Durham, NH (see map). The recycling location is at the top of the hill at the end of Adams Point Road, just as you go through the stone pillars. In the future, as the program grows, we hope to add additional sites on the other side of Great Bay.

At the recycling site, you will find a trailer with labeled bins where you can place your shell. Here is how it works:

Step 1: Identify the source of your shell (NH/Great Bay Wild Harvest, Restaurant, or Grocery or Seafood Market)
Step 2: Place oyster shell in appropriate container
Step 3: Latch the lid of the recycling container
Step 4: Fill out log book (amount of shell donated, source of shell, if NH/GB, where was it harvested)

We thank you for your effort and support with this new project! We have already collected over 30 bushels of Great Bay oyster shell!

If you have any questions or comments regarding the shell recycling program, please contact Jenn Greene at (603) 862-1244 or via email.