CCA Texas Funds $162,000 to Sink Your ShucksTM Oyster Recycle Initiative

The CCA Texas Executive Board recently approved $162,000 in funding for the Sink Your Shucks^TM initiative to support their oyster shell recycling efforts in the Corpus Christi area. This funding includes $152,000 to support the program’s basic operations for two years and $10,000 the program used to purchase two new trailers and make repairs to their existing trailer. These trailers will be used for the transportation of used oyster shells from local restaurants for recycling efforts.

The Sink Your Shucks^TM initiative was founded by the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) in 2009 and is now co-coordinated by Dr. Jennifer Pollack, Endowed Chair for Coastal Conservation and Restoration and the Texas Surf Conservancy (formerly the Texas Surf Museum). The program was the first in Texas that reclaims oyster shells from local restaurants and returns them to our local waters providing both substrate to form new reefs and habitat for fish, crabs and other organisms.

“We are eager to take control of Sink Your Shucks, which will advance TSC's mission to protect and preserve the beaches, bays, and waterways of the Texas Gulf Coast,” said Brad Lomax, Founder of the Texas Surf Museum, now the Texas Surf Conservancy. Lomax continued, “Sink Your Shucks is a legacy project that creates lasting, quantitative benefits for our local waters, and bridges distinct industries through shared values of environmental stewardship. This funding builds on thirteen years of hard work, community building, and successful shell reclamation. To date, over three million pounds of shell have been reclaimed, and 25 acres of reef habitat restored throughout Copano Bay, Aransas Bay, and St. Charles Bay.”

The $152,000 in funding approved by the CCA Texas Executive Board to help fund operations of the Sink Your Shucks^TM program will last for a period of two years. In the future, CCA Texas will consider additional funding to help the program’s sustainability as it continues to secure funding from other sources. To date, other funding partners include Mike Shaw Toyota and the Port of Corpus Christi. Additionally, the office of Rep. Todd Hunter has provided public sponsorship of this legacy effort. CCA Texas is committed to creating a sustainable oyster fishery in Texas, and programs like Sink Your Shucks^TM are a vital component of this effort.

A crucial aspect of this recycling program is the transportation of oyster shells by trailer from local restaurants to quarantine areas. The single trailer used by the Sink Your Shucks^TM program was in dire need of critical repairs. CCA Texas made the commitment to make repairs to the existing trailer as well as purchase a new one. The estimated total cost for the project was approximately $10,000. The funding for this project was generously supplied by James Avery Artisan Jewelry after the Texas-based company expressed an interest in supporting CCA Texas’ efforts to conserve the state’s coastal resources. As a result, HRI was able to purchase two new trailers, one more than they had originally envisioned, and make changes to their existing trailer. The vital funding of Sink Your Shucks^TM enables the program to continue its critical work and move forward on a path to further growth. CCA Texas also funded $10,000 for the purchase of two new trailers for the Galveston Bay Foundation’s own oyster shell recycling program. In total, CCA Texas funded $20,000 for the purchase of four brand-new trailers for oyster recycling efforts. The Galveston Bay Foundation is a conservation nonprofit that has served as a guardian of Galveston Bay since 1987. Their mission is to conserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come.

CCA Texas believes it's imperative that the management of our Texas oyster fishery continues to evolve by prioritizing the ecological and structural value of oysters in the water by safeguarding existing reefs and creating new ones. The recent actions taken by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to prohibit oyster harvest in Ayres, Carlos, and Mesquite bays (Mesquite Bay complex) is a milestone step in this effort to conserve our state’s oyster fishery. Additionally, efforts such as the Sink Your Shucks^TM program, the Galveston Bay Foundation’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program, and the evolution and growth of the Texas oyster mariculture program provide much-needed support. While these steps are bold and innovative, much more work lies ahead in the 2023 legislative session. CCA Texas will be an active voice and work with other NGOs, academia, and industry stakeholders to ensure a sustainable Texas oyster fishery for current and future generations.