HLS 15RS-3252 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 176
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO
FISHING/OYSTERS: To commend the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana on the
success of the oyster shell recycling program
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To commend the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana on the success of their oyster shell
3 recycling program.
4 WHEREAS, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) was incorporated
5as a not-for-profit corporation in 1988 with a goal to reverse the pattern of new land loss by
6driving bold, science-based action to rebuild coastal Louisiana; and
7 WHEREAS, in pursuit of this goal, the CRCL advocates for the implementation of
8sound coastal policies and monitors coastal activities to ensure that stringent regulations and
9enforcement policies are maintained and by fulfilling the role as responsible stewards of
10Louisiana's rich coastal wetlands as the CRCL facilitates and funds actual restoration activity
11and works diligently to raise awareness and educate others about the importance of
12preserving and restoring coastal Louisiana; and
13 WHEREAS, the CRCL works to match key financial resources with unique
14opportunities and diverse partnerships to leverage efforts in the fight against coastal land loss
15by performing a unique and effective role in forming these partnerships and directing their
16efforts to ensure the production of meaningful results; and
17 WHEREAS, the CRCL hopes to shape the way people approach development in our
18coastal area and the way the Mississippi River corridor is managed through a multifaceted
19and comprehensive approach to coastal restoration that demonstrates steadfast commitment
20and distinguishes the CRCL from any other civic or environmental group; and
Page 1 of 3 HLS 15RS-3252 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 176
1 WHEREAS, the CRCL, in June of 2014, launched a program to recycle oyster shells
2gathered from participating New Orleans restaurants; with the oyster shells gathered being
3used to aide in the restoration of oyster reefs and shoreline habitat across coastal Louisiana;
4and
5 WHEREAS, this is the first program of its kind in Louisiana and in its first twelve
6months it became the largest oyster shell recycling program in the nation recycling over
7seven hundred twenty-five tons of used oyster shells; and
8 WHEREAS, the recycling program is sponsored through a million dollar donation
9from the Shell Oil Company; and
10 WHEREAS, there are twelve restaurants in the New Orleans area that are currently
11active participants in the recycling program and those twelve restaurants accounted for more
12recycled oyster shells than the entire Maryland program that had been the largest in the
13nation prior to Louisiana entering the market and the Maryland program recycles from
14hundreds of restaurants throughout that state; and
15 WHEREAS, the CRCL chose to pursue an oyster shell recycling program to help
16develop oyster beds that will in turn enhance the water quality of our estuaries, to provide
17essential fish habitat, to build buffers against storm surge, and to replenish the oyster shell
18deficit that has developed because nearly sixty percent of the shell removed through the
19harvest of oysters is not returned to the water to encourage the growth of new oysters; and
20 WHEREAS, the CRCL bags the recycled oyster shells and deploys those bags along
21eroding shorelines to help protect shorelines and to help build reefs and the recycling
22program also provides shell to facilitate oyster reef aquaculture research; and
23 WHEREAS, the CRCL plans to continue and expand their oyster shell recycling
24program through contact with more restaurants and seafood processors and deploying the
25recycled oyster shells throughout the state's coastal areas.
26 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
27commend the CRCL on the success of their oyster shell recycling program.
28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
29Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.
Page 2 of 3 HLS 15RS-3252 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 176
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 176 Original 2015 Regular Session Garofalo
Commends the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana on the success of their oyster shell
recycling program.
Page 3 of 3