Louisiana is losing land faster than anywhere else in the nation - about a football field of marshland washes away every 100 minutes, taking with it vital habitat for our seafood favorites, economic and cultural opportunity, and stability for those who call Louisiana home. CRCL's Oyster Shell Recycling program was formed in response to Louisiana's land-loss crisis - since 2014, the program has collected over 3,000 tons of shell, destined to return to Louisiana's coastal waters to help restore oyster reefs, create fish habitat, and stabilize our coastline. Volunteers will help prepare the shell for future restoration projects across the coast, by bagging shell that will later be stacked on barges and transported to oyster reef restoration sites. By helping prepare the shell, volunteers play a crucial role in creating living shoreline projects. Our first reef, a half-mile breakwater in Biloxi Marsh, was completed in November of 2016, and is actively growing into a living shoreline. The shell bagged in 2018 will support two additional projects, a half-mile oyster reef in Barataria Basin, and a shoreline protection project for an important cultural heritage site in partnership with the Pointe aux Chien Indian Tribe.
CRCL has a seven-year track record of providing quality, hands-on volunteer opportunities that are both educational and provide a lasting impact in Louisiana's coastal habitats. Shell bagging events are held at CRCL's shell curing site in Buras, LA. Events run from 9am to 1pm; registration is open from 9am to 9:30, followed by an introduction and safety talk by CRCL staff, and a walk-through of the day's activities. Snacks and water are provided during breaks throughout the day, with Louisiana coastal educational discussions led by CRCL staff. Volunteers assist with preparing bagging materials, filling bags with recycled shell, and stacking the bags for transport. Due to the physical nature of the work, the minimum age to participate in the project events is 18; volunteer groups with attendees as young as 16 may be considered if prior arrangements are made with CRCL staff. Volunteers receive end-of-day goodies (t-shirts, etc.) in addition to educational materials and access to a Facebook album of photos taken throughout the day. Events are held monthly from September to May, with the option for additional dates catered to group needs.
For more information or to schedule a group event, please contact us at christa.russell@crcl.org.
To volunteer with us, you must register through our calendar of events.
