NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) - Collection sites in Newport News, Hampton and Williamsburg are taking in empty oyster shells to help rebuild oyster habitat in the Chesapeake Bay.
The oyster shell collection bins are for use by restaurateurs and residents alike.
The bay's oyster population has declined for decades because of pollution and disease, among other reasons. To bring back a signature bay catch, public and private efforts have accelerated in recent years to recreate the reefs oysters need to thrive.
The huge amount of shells needed to build oyster reefs has often been in short supply, and large-scale efforts have mined ancient shells from the bay's tributaries for reuse.
The Daily Press reports that the collection system is an effort by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and its partners.
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Information from: Daily Pre
Empty Oyster Shell Collection in Virginia Towns
Don Rush
