Florida student collects 1,600 pounds of oyster shells for restoration project
Bianca Bernhard founded the Martin Oyster Restoration Initiative to help improve local water quality using discarded restaurant waste.
Bianca Bernhard, a student at South Fork High School in Florida, has collected approximately 1,600 pounds of discarded oyster shells to support local waterway restoration, according to the Times of India.
Bernhard started the Martin Oyster Restoration Initiative (MORI) after noticing the deteriorating condition of local waterways while rowing, as reported by WFLX.
The project involves collecting used shells from restaurants, which are then transported to the school to be dried and cured for use in approved reef structures.
These structures provide a foundation for oysters to grow, which helps filter water and provide habitats in aquatic ecosystems.
The initiative has involved more than 60 students and teachers from various programmes, including marine science, construction, and agriculture, according to WPTV.
Volunteers have used the prepared shells to develop vertical oyster gardens for the Indian River Lagoon in partnership with the nonprofit Docks for a Clean Lagoon.
Bernhard is a finalist in the Blue Hatchling Youth category of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center's 2026 Go Blue Awards.
She plans to expand the programme to three additional local schools during the 2026-27 school year and hopes to work with the Florida Oceanographic Society on research.