Corrs project will recover and recycle shells from restaurants, seafood businesses, and festivals to continue to maintain a statewide shell recovery and recycling network in connecticut for oyster…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded $184,000 to the Collective Oyster Recycling & Restoration Foundation Inc. on October 1, 2026, under the Congressionally Identified Awards and Projects program (CFDA 11.469).

The project recovers and recycles shells from restaurants, seafood businesses, and oyster festivals across Connecticut to support oyster reef habitat restoration in Long Island Sound. As of the award date, the recipient had engaged 21 municipalities, 52 restaurants and seafood businesses, and eight annual oyster festivals, recovering and recycling over 1,003,765 pounds of shell since its inception in 2023.

Project deliverables through September 30, 2027, include recovering and recycling up to 385,000 additional pounds of shell, adding at least five new restaurant and shellfish business partners, and expanding participation from 21 to 25 municipalities. The recipient will conduct classroom presentations to at least 150 elementary and middle school students and at least five educational presentations to community groups. Educational materials include distribution of at least 500 informational pamphlets, 5,000 program information cards, 10,000 coasters, and 1,000 children's activity booklets.

Performance occurs in Fairfield, Connecticut. The award is a one-year project grant with no sub-recipients identified in the source.

Corrs project will recover and recycle shells from restaurants, seafood businesses, and festivals to continue to maintain a statewide shell recovery and recycling network in connecticut for oyster reef habitat restoration in long island sound to preserve historical oyster beds and reefs in bridgeport, stratford, and branford, CT. Currently, corr engages 21 municipalities, 52 restaurants and seafood businesses, and eight annual oyster festivals in recovering and recycling shells. Participation in corrs shell recycling program is free, and we have recovered and recycled over 1,003,765 pounds of shell since our inception in 2023. Corrs goals and objectives are: goal 1: increase the total pounds of shell recovered and recycled. Objectives add at least five more restaurant and shellfish business partners to the program by the end of the project period. Recover and recycle up to 385,000 LBS of shell by the end of the project period. Goal 2: scale our shell recovery and recycling network to include 25 municipalities. Objectives hold meetings with potential restaurant and shellfish business partners in the municipalities currently not participating in the program within the project period. Expand the program from 21 to 25 municipalities by the end of the project period (four new municipalities). Goal 3: enhance community awareness about the importance of shell recycling and the role oysters play in our ecosystem. Objectives conduct classroom presentations to at least 150 elementary and middle school students by the end of the project period. Conduct at least five educational presentations to community groups and members of the public by the end of the project period. Distribute at least 500 informational pamphlets, 5,000 of program information cards, 10,000 coasters by the end of the project period, and 1,000 childrens activity booklets. I) program/project proposed total amount: $184,000 j) corrs project outcomes are to: increase the total pounds of shell recovered and recycled by at least 10%. Grow the number of participating restaurant and shellfish business partners by at least 10%. Plant a minimum of 350,000 LBS of shell. Implement the program in 25 municipalities (expanding from 21 municipalities at the project start). Increase public knowledge about shell recycling and oyster habitat restoration through targeted educational presentations. Enhance awareness of our shell recycling program and oyster habitat restoration at public festivals and events.