Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) —  The Alabama Coastal Foundation's Oyster Shell Recycling Program reported collecting 30,956,299 shells year to date — just shy of the 31 million mark. The program launched in August 2016, following a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as part of the Gulf Coast Conservation Grants Program. It began with a Causeway Route in fall 2016 and expanded to the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area in spring 2017.

Collected shells are returned to Alabama waters, where they help oysters grow, provide habitat for marine life, reduce erosion, and improve water quality. The program is part of the Alabama Coastal Foundation's participation in the Create a Clean Water Future Campaign.

The numbers tell a clear story. As of August 19, 2026, the program has restored 120.1 acres of reef, filled 492 dump trucks with shells, and collected enough shells to weigh as much as 653 elephants or 7,830 manatees.

Participating restaurants across coastal Alabama are at the heart of the effort. The program is open to all restaurants in the region, not just those on the original routes. Residents are encouraged to thank those businesses by visiting them and sharing on social media.

To find which local restaurants are participating in the program, visit joinacf.org/oyster-shell-recycling-program. The Alabama Coastal Foundation has been working to protect Alabama's coastal environment since 1993.