Oyster Spat!

No, this isn't a joke about arguing oysters, nor do oysters spit (as far as I know). Oyster spat are baby shell-less oysters that need a place to attach too in order to grow shells. You know, the two that are needed before one can be shucked to produce an oyster on the half shell. In Southeast Georgia there are a couple of collection spots (in Brunswick, Savannah, and on Jekyll Island) where oyster shells (sans oysters) are collected for reuse in building oyster shell reefs, a new habitat for among the fish and other things, oyster spat. Recycling oyster shells is a great way to have your oysters and eat them too because the shell reefs created with the recycled oyster shells provide essential habitat for, not only fish, but also shrimp, crabs, birds, and other forms of estuarine dependent wildlife. Man made assisted oyster shell reefs also serve as natural breakwaters that reduce erosion. A single oyster can filter 50 gallons of water in a day, and that for even a simple bivalve seems pretty impressive to me but their populations are on the decline. Spring is the time of year when the Marine Extension Services are most involved in the reef building projects using oyster shells they've collected form restaurants and people having oyster roasts during the past year. So consider recycling or ask if the folks at your favorite oyster bar recycle the shells for the sake of oyster spat!