Shellfish Enhancement Plan
Developing Raw Material Resources for Shoreline Restoration Projects
“Shellfish Enhancement Plan”
Ongoing Shellfish Programs Oyster shell recycling Provide a source of shells for restoration projects Outreach opportunity with restaurants, oyster events Volunteer opportunity with groups and individuals
Oyster Gardening A source of immature oysters, in clusters, for restoration projects Outreach opportunity for waterfront property owners
Began in August 2014 Universal Waste Recycling Grant Capital costs The Nature Conservancy,
Delaware Chapter Education/ promotional materials
Division of Parks and Recreation Processing site
Restaurants agree to participate
(verbally) Provided commercial plastic trash barrels Twice‐weekly pick‐up in (summer) Barrels are changed as needed Promotional material is provided
Restaurant partners
Events Georgetown Fire Co. Annual Oyster Eat (approx. 8 bushels) VFW Oyster Night Others…..
Curing Shells cured for
a minimum of 6 months Shells turned over twice prior to bagging
Bagging
DCYS Bagging Events Ideal group size 12‐16 participants Approximately 2 hours in duration Approximately 500 bags per session
Misc: Polyethylene mesh
bags Knotted
WADS
By the numbers… 4040 bushels collected 170 hours collection labor (2016) 25 different collection
facilities/events 1500 bags produced 3 bagging events held thus far 3 more planned before summer
Yield: Year
Number of Facilities
Yield (Bushels)
2014 2015 2016
5 12 17
157 1133 2750
Oyster Gardening
Program began in 2003 as a
demonstration project Partnership with University of Delaware / Sea Grant Town of South Bethany Oysters are not suitable for human consumption Oysters are removed from gardeners on a regular basis and used in various projects
Larvae obtained from Rutgers/
Haskin Lab High‐performance/ disease
resistant
Remote‐set at UD lab in Lewes
“Gardeners” provide waterfront
location and basic husbandry Currently about 70 participants Attend yearly training
Oyster Gardening‐ future goals Grow the program to 120 participants‐ capture the
volunteer hours Make the program self‐sustaining (financially) Use the oysters in restoration projects
Deploying the oysters Shellfish Enhancement Plan Not placed in “Approved Waters” Size and timing TBD
Thankyou!
“Shellfish Enhancement Plan”
Ongoing Shellfish Programs Oyster shell recycling Provide a source of shells for restoration projects Outreach opportunity with restaurants, oyster events Volunteer opportunity with groups and individuals
Oyster Gardening A source of immature oysters, in clusters, for restoration projects Outreach opportunity for waterfront property owners
Began in August 2014 Universal Waste Recycling Grant Capital costs The Nature Conservancy,
Delaware Chapter Education/ promotional materials
Division of Parks and Recreation Processing site
Restaurants agree to participate
(verbally) Provided commercial plastic trash barrels Twice‐weekly pick‐up in (summer) Barrels are changed as needed Promotional material is provided
Restaurant partners
Events Georgetown Fire Co. Annual Oyster Eat (approx. 8 bushels) VFW Oyster Night Others…..
Curing Shells cured for
a minimum of 6 months Shells turned over twice prior to bagging
Bagging
DCYS Bagging Events Ideal group size 12‐16 participants Approximately 2 hours in duration Approximately 500 bags per session
Misc: Polyethylene mesh
bags Knotted
WADS
By the numbers… 4040 bushels collected 170 hours collection labor (2016) 25 different collection
facilities/events 1500 bags produced 3 bagging events held thus far 3 more planned before summer
Yield: Year
Number of Facilities
Yield (Bushels)
2014 2015 2016
5 12 17
157 1133 2750
Oyster Gardening
Program began in 2003 as a
demonstration project Partnership with University of Delaware / Sea Grant Town of South Bethany Oysters are not suitable for human consumption Oysters are removed from gardeners on a regular basis and used in various projects
Larvae obtained from Rutgers/
Haskin Lab High‐performance/ disease
resistant
Remote‐set at UD lab in Lewes
“Gardeners” provide waterfront
location and basic husbandry Currently about 70 participants Attend yearly training
Oyster Gardening‐ future goals Grow the program to 120 participants‐ capture the
volunteer hours Make the program self‐sustaining (financially) Use the oysters in restoration projects
Deploying the oysters Shellfish Enhancement Plan Not placed in “Approved Waters” Size and timing TBD
Thankyou!
