Student Program Recycles Oyster Shells for Reefs

The Martin Oyster Restoration Initiative collects discarded shells from restaurants to rebuild oyster habitat in Florida waterways.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Environmental

Pale cleaned oyster shells are stacked on a wooden pallet at the edge of a shallow Florida estuary with mangroves in the distance. — Students at South Fork High School in Florida have collected about 1,600 pounds of discarded restaurant oyster shells to rebuild local reef habitat. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you support your local schools running community water-restoration projects like this one?

Bianca Bernhard launched the Martin Oyster Restoration Initiative (MORI) at South Fork High School to collect used oyster shells from restaurants. The program has gathered approximately 1,600 pounds of shells with help from more than 60 students and teachers.

Why it matters

Oyster shells provide hard surfaces that oyster larvae need to settle and grow into reefs, which filter water and support marine life. The effort gives students hands-on experience while putting discarded material back into local waterways in Florida.

The figures come from the program's own collection and participation tallies, which total about 1,600 pounds of shells and more than 60 participants. No measurements of reef growth or water quality change were included, so the environmental impact remains unquantified.

The players

Bianca Bernhard

Bernhard founded the Martin Oyster Restoration Initiative after becoming concerned about the condition of local waterways while rowing.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center

The Juno Beach, Florida nonprofit runs the Go Blue Awards that recognize youth and adult conservation work.

The details

Shells are brought back to South Fork High School, where they are prepared and then dried and cured so they can be incorporated into approved reef structures. Volunteer-prepared shells have already been used in vertical oyster gardens for the Indian River Lagoon.

MORI plans to expand to three additional local schools during the 2026-27 school year.
Bernhard was named a finalist in the Blue Hatchling Youth category of the 2026 Go Blue Awards.

Big Picture

The program feeds shells into vertical oyster gardens already used in the Indian River Lagoon, extending local restoration work to a school-based supply chain. Its proposed partnership with the Florida Oceanographic Society could add formal research on how restored oyster habitat performs.

Restaurants that discard oyster shells can contribute them to MORI rather than sending them to landfill. Students at participating schools gain honors credits through the Marine Sciences program.

The takeaway

Used oyster shells are a practical resource for reef restoration, and local schools and restaurants can help supply them. Community programs like MORI show how small, repeated collection efforts can add up to meaningful habitat support.