ENROLLED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 176
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To commend the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana on the success of their oyster shell
recycling program.
WHEREAS, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) was incorporated
as a not-for-profit corporation in 1988 with a goal to reverse the pattern of new land loss by
driving bold, science-based action to rebuild coastal Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, in pursuit of this goal, the CRCL advocates for the implementation of
sound coastal policies and monitors coastal activities to ensure that stringent regulations and
enforcement policies are maintained and by fulfilling the role as responsible stewards of
Louisiana's rich coastal wetlands as the CRCL facilitates and funds actual restoration activity
and works diligently to raise awareness and educate others about the importance of
preserving and restoring coastal Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the CRCL works to match key financial resources with unique
opportunities and diverse partnerships to leverage efforts in the fight against coastal land loss
by performing a unique and effective role in forming these partnerships and directing their
efforts to ensure the production of meaningful results; and
WHEREAS, the CRCL hopes to shape the way people approach development in our
coastal area and the way the Mississippi River corridor is managed through a multifaceted
and comprehensive approach to coastal restoration that demonstrates steadfast commitment
and distinguishes the CRCL from any other civic or environmental group; and
WHEREAS, the CRCL, in June of 2014, launched a program to recycle oyster shells
gathered from participating New Orleans restaurants; with the oyster shells gathered being
used to aide in the restoration of oyster reefs and shoreline habitat across coastal Louisiana;
and
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WHEREAS, this is the first program of its kind in Louisiana and in its first twelve
months it became the largest oyster shell recycling program in the nation recycling over
seven hundred twenty-five tons of used oyster shells; and
WHEREAS, the recycling program is sponsored through a million dollar donation
from the Shell Oil Company; and
WHEREAS, there are twelve restaurants in the New Orleans area that are currently
active participants in the recycling program and those twelve restaurants accounted for more
recycled oyster shells than the entire Maryland program that had been the largest in the
nation prior to Louisiana entering the market and the Maryland program recycles from
hundreds of restaurants throughout that state; and
WHEREAS, the CRCL chose to pursue an oyster shell recycling program to help
develop oyster beds that will in turn enhance the water quality of our estuaries, to provide
essential fish habitat, to build buffers against storm surge, and to replenish the oyster shell
deficit that has developed because nearly sixty percent of the shell removed through the
harvest of oysters is not returned to the water to encourage the growth of new oysters; and
WHEREAS, the CRCL bags the recycled oyster shells and deploys those bags along
eroding shorelines to help protect shorelines and to help build reefs and the recycling
program also provides shell to facilitate oyster reef aquaculture research; and
WHEREAS, the CRCL plans to continue and expand their oyster shell recycling
program through contact with more restaurants and seafood processors and deploying the
recycled oyster shells throughout the state's coastal areas.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend the CRCL on the success of their oyster shell recycling program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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