Chesapeake bay region celebrates oyster shell recycling record
The Oyster Recovery Partnership’s shell recycling program collected a record 30,200 bushels of oyster shell from nearly 300 establishments across the Chesapeake Bay area in 2016, demonstrating the increasing efforts and commitment of local businesses to help restore the region’s oyster population. The year’s top contributors are restaurants and seafood suppliers in Annapolis, Baltimore, Hunt Valley, Jessup and Washington DC.
“We’re grateful to all of our recycling members and the patrons who support these establishments for making a concerted effort to save their used shell,” said ORP Executive Director Stephan Abel. “Their participation has contributed to another banner year, surpassing last year’s record by 4,200 bushels, and allowing us to plant more oysters in the Chesapeake Bay than ever before.”
The Top 10 Shell Recycling Alliance contributors of 2016 are:
Congressional Seafood (Jessup, MD) — 2,264 bushels (reclaimed from distribution sites)
Old Ebbitt Grill (DC) — 1,567 bushels
Jesse Taylor Seafood (DC) — 1,204 bushels
Captain White’s Seafood City (DC) — 1,204 bushels
Faidley’s Seafood in Lexington Market (Baltimore, MD) — 1,050 bushels
Rappahannock River Oyster Bar (DC) — 965 bushels
Mike’s Crab House (Annapolis/Riva, MD) — 917 bushels
Ryleigh’s Oyster (Hunt Valley, MD) — 784 bushels
Boatyard Bar and Grill (Annapolis, MD) — 732 bushels
The Local Oyster (Baltimore, MD) — 672 bushels