Virginia Commonwealth University’s Todd Janeski will expand an effort in Richmond to collect oyster shells headed to landfills. The shells are recycled by returning them to the Chesapeake Bay as a natural, hard substrate for new oysters to attach, promoting not only the growth of Bay oysters but also of the Bay. Now the Richmond effort is 20 partners strong, comprised of restaurants, businesses, state and local governments and nongovernmental organizations. Janeski will attempt to have similar success in Charlottesville, Virginia. With the help of partners such as the VCU Rice Rivers Center, the Virginia Master Naturalists, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the University of Virginia, and Virginia Sea Grant, expansion to Charlottesville could be the next step toward statewide expansion.
Project details: Todd Janeski (VCU). Virginia Oyster Shell Recycling Program: Charlottesville, Virginia Area Expansion.
