First oyster shell recycling program coming to Mississippi

The state of Mississippi is launching its first oyster shell recycling program.

The ‘Save our Shells’ program, funded through a Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality grant, gives the community an opportunity to give back to the environment while protecting a valuable natural resource.

It is estimated that the SOS program could collect hundreds of thousands of recycled oysters in the first two years that could be put back into the Mississippi Sound.

Recycling used oyster shells is an effective use of natural material that can be placed in the water for oyster larvae to grow on and produce new oysters.

This effort will also support the local fishing community and local restaurants.