With the number of oysters
roasts held in the Lowcountry this time of year, one
would think that local oysters are plentiful. The
real truth is that the supply can't keep up with the
demand and if oyster recycling efforts aren't
adhered too, our local crops could be in danger.
The South Carolina
Department of Natural Resources has initiated and
oyster recycling and restoration program that has
caught on among many restaurants, associations and
marine conservancy groups. In fact, the South
Carolina Coastal Conservation Association just
received a $10,000 grant from the Wallace F. Pate
Foundation in South Carolina to participate in the
program.
What started out as a
simple idea of an adopt- a- creek program has
blossomed into CCA SC's Topwater Action Campaign.
With a slogan of "Habitat today equals fish for
tomorrow," the program has grown into a grass
roots effort that focuses on improving fisheries
habitat and water quality up and down South
Carolina's coast. Building on the notions of oyster
recycling, oyster reef restoration/ creation, water
quality, and education, the program's mission and
message are resonating with both anglers and
communities.
With cooperation from both
state and federal agencies including SCDNR, SCDHEC,
& NOAA, the first 22 months of the program have
seen tremendous results and state wide community
support.
Mike Able, CCA SC
Government Relations Committee chairman said he
learned that only 25 percent of the public oyster
beds at Cummings Point were open opposed to the 70
percent that was seen during the late 1960's.
"That is an enormous
amount to lose for that area," he said.
"But we learned that most of that was caused by
home development around Secessionville, and go feces
that ran off into the waterways. DNA sampling found
the cause of the pollution to those beds. After
hearing this I was dazed. I've fished these waters
all my life and having grown up here I knew that if
we didn't take a hard look at non-point pollution
we're headed for a lot of trouble."
What resulted from that
meeting was the CCA's decision to create a program
that would have a direct impact on improving the
resource. Volunteers were quickly organized for the
first phase of the effort which entails the
collection of used shells from oyster roasts and
festivals; the latest example of that coming last
week at the Sullivan's Island Fire Department oyster
roast.
"CCA got behind this
because we need to educate the public on the purpose
and the need to recycle shell. Sewage seepage and
animal waste are polluting out waters and there's a
way to stop it and fix it," Able said. He added
that for the last 25 years the CCA has brought to
light resources and science based information.
"We've done enormous things for the State of
South Carolina but it has been behind the scenes
work. We thought this recycling effort would be a
way for CCA members to be out and about and possibly
bring in new members. The idea is to involve the
public, schools, scouts and others who can help make
a difference," Able said.
Scott Whitaker, CCA South
Carolina executive director said the organization
wanted to continue to be successful in the advocacy
role of watchdog for marine conservation but the
group felt it was time to have a habitat arm of the
organization.
"It is so imperative
that we put shells back out there because spatch
(oyster larvae) needs a structure to attach itself
to. A shell is the perfect habitat. One shell can
yield four attachments which equates to about 4,000
oysters," Able said.
Money from another grant
was used to purchase two barges for hauling recycled
shell to designated shell beds. Each barge can haul
about 150 bushels of shell. Working with DNR local
CCA chapter members are trying to identify creeks
that can be recovered. This means with a little
work, water quality can be returned to an acceptable
level and oysters can begin to grow at a healthy
rate. This would also mean that existing public
oyster beds can be reopened. DNR has grant money to
clean up these waterways and is working with
residents in the area and business owners to reduce
non-point pollution into the creeks.
In the meantime, the
recycling effort is crucial because as waterways
become clean again, oyster shells will be recycled,
quarantined, cleaned and then deposited back into
the creeks.
Able noted that one oyster
filters about a gallon of water an hour. That helps
with water quality. When it rains or when water
quality is bad is when officials must close down
public oyster beds. Since oysters are filter
feeders, humans do not want to consume oysters that
come from areas with poor water quality.
"In addition, when you
create an oyster reef you create a habitat for fish,
crabs, and finfish. And it helps regenerate spartina
grass behind banks which usually disappears because
of erosion and boat traffic," Able said.
The idea is simple. Anyone
having an oyster roast which will produce over 30
bushels of shell can call CCA volunteers who will
come pick up the shell for recycling. Anyone having
an oyster roast producing less than 30 bushels can
recycle their own shell at drop off sites around
town. In Mount Pleasant their is a collection site
at the Town of Mount Pleasant Public Works facility
on Six Mile Road and one at Simmons Seafood on the
Isle of Palms.
"We hope people who
buy just a few bushels won't go dump the shells in
the creek because it could introduce a new bacteria
to our area and create long term problems,"
Able said.
This is the third year CCA
has partnered with the Restaurant Association and
Boone Hall to collect the shells produced from the
annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival. During the
beginning phase of this volunteer program, CCA
members quickly realized that the public was unaware
about the recycling efforts and what it takes to
make it work.
"The shells have to be
clean of trash and debris," said CCA SC
Volunteer Organizer Gary Keisler. "Too often
people will throw rags and trash into the containers
with the shells so we're trying to educate people so
that they have a barrel for the shells and a barrel
for their trash."
Able said that CCA
volunteers routinely have to sift through the shells
to remove the trash before they can take the shells
to be recycled.
At the recent Sullivan's
Island Volunteer Fire Department Oyster Roast, CCA
volunteers were able to recycle approximately 200
bushels of shell. Signs were placed along the tables
indicating that only shell was to be dropped into
designated containers. This helped cut down on the
amount of trash that had to be removed from the
shell. The oyster roast at Vickery's in Mount
Pleasant also contributed over 60 bushels. The
annual Daniel Island Oyster Roast will be a
contributor this year along with local caterer John
G. Thornhill from Charleston Bay Gourmet, and
caterer Kevin Westendorf.
"The folks at
Vickery's were very helpful. We used the five gallon
buckets that the oysters came in to collect the
shells and they worked with us to make sure trash
and shell stayed separate," Keisler said.
"We've got to educate
people on the fact that the shells are being
recycled and once we get to that point, we won't
even have to be on site for each event," Able
said. "We'll just show up the next morning to
retrieve the shell."
CCA's efforts last year
produced an estimated 3,000 bushels of recycled
shells. With the oyster roast season just beginning,
the volunteers have set a 4,000 bushel recycling
goal by March of 2010. Along with other festivals in
different communities, the Boone Hall Oyster
festival in January has been the largest single
source of recycled shell for the program (over 1,100
bushels each of the last two years) and the
cooperation with that event coordinators has
provided lessons learned in the efficiency of how
best to go about collecting the shells.
The way it works
Recycled shells are taken
to the South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources facility and quarantined for six to nine
months. They are tested for bacteria before they are
put back into local waters. It does not matter if
shells come from other parts of the country because
the quarantine process is so rigorous. It is
imperative that bacteria not indigenous to the area
not be placed into local waters.
Once the shells are ready
to be placed, they are bagged in biodegradable
bushels bags and lined along banks to make a reef.
According to Whitaker, not
only does this program help our coastal resources
but it also saves money. "The state was
literally trying to raise money to purchase shells
from other states. We're turning cost and expenses
for renewable resources and making it an asset by
simply recycling and reusing what we already have
and what we're consuming. This is a straight forward
common sense approach to our marine resources,"
he said
According to Whitaker,
South Carolina is on the leading edge of this type
effort which is being emulated in North Carolina,
Florida and Georgia. In South Carolina, CCA's effort
reaches statewide, not just along the coast.
Get involved!
Look for CCA volunteers at
the next big event at Boone Hall which is the 27th
annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival. They'll be
wearing reflective vests that say CCA Oyster
Recovery Team. For more information on CCA SC's
Topwater Action Campaign visit
www.ccasouthcarolina.com. Keisler is the organizer
for this program and should be contacted if your
organization has shell to be recycled. He can be
reached at 696-6274.
CCA is a grass roots
organization run by a state board of 45 volunteers
from all over the state. For more information on the
recycling program state-wide, visit http://saltwaterfishing.sc.gov/oyster.html.
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