Coastal Carolina University marine biology professor Keith Walters is leading the Coastal Oyster Recycling and Restoration Initiative (CORRI) and looking for interested student and community volunteers to participate in the project this spring and summer.

The project's efforts are threefold. One, develop and promote a local oyster shell recycling program with local restaurants. Two, build and plant reefs from the recycled oyster shells in six different locations across the Grand Strand. Reefs will be constructed on three swash tidal creeks (White Point, Singleton and Withers) and three tidal creeks (Hog Inlet, Murrells Inlet and North Inlet). Three, collect scientific samples of the fauna associated with the reefs.

The initiative is funded and supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and FishAmerica.

For more information or to contribute to the project, contact Keith Walters at 843-349-2477 or kwalt@coastal.edu.