Q+A with Liv from Mass Oyster Project

In honor of Earth Month, we’re taking a closer look at the role oysters play in our local waters, doing more than most of us realize.

We caught up with Liv from the Massachusetts Oyster Project to learn how these small but mighty shellfish are helping restore coastal ecosystems across Massachusetts, and how something as simple as an oyster shell can make its way from a dinner plate back to the ocean floor, creating real impact along the way.

For someone new to it, what is the Mass Oyster Project all about?

We are a non-profit organization that is dedicated to increasing native oyster populations in Massachusetts by using oysters as a nature-based solution to strengthen coastal ecosystems, improve water quality, enhance resilience, and support biodiversity.

How does your work directly impact our local waters here in Massachusetts?

Our work directly improves Massachusetts’ coastal waters by rebuilding native oyster habitat and engaging the community in that process. We grow oysters to repopulate depleted areas and return recycled shell, from our shell recycling program to the water to create the foundation for new reefs. Through hands-on volunteer efforts, partnerships with local restaurants, and community programs, people play a direct role in restoring reefs that naturally filter water, strengthen shorelines, and support marine life.

What’s something most people don’t realize about oysters and their impact on the environment? 

This is a great question, and one I did not previously know. I continue to learn new tidbits about oysters every day. Most people know oysters can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, improving water clarity and quality. What many don’t realize is that their greatest impact comes from their ability to build reefs. Because oysters attach in place for life, they grow into complex reef structures, similar to coral reefs, that provide habitat for up to 200 species, create a vital food source, and help buffer shorelines from erosion and storms. The real power of oysters isn’t just in filtering water, it’s in the ecosystems they build.

If you followed one oyster shell from a restaurant plate to the ocean floor, what would that journey look like?

I love this question because it tells the full story of restoration. Oysters come from the sea—and they should go back to the sea, not into landfills.

After an oyster is enjoyed at a restaurant, the shell goes into one of our recycling buckets. Our Shell Slinger team collects those buckets and brings the shells to a central dumpster. Once full, the shells are transported to our aging site, where they’re spread into long rows called cultch. There, they sit for about a year, exposed to the elements—what we like to call nature’s dishwasher—where they’re cleaned, dried, and prepared for reuse.

Once fully cured, the shells are ready to return to the water. We use them in a variety of ways: as loose shell to rebuild reef structure, or placed into mesh bags. In some cases, we add oyster larvae (called spat) in tanks, where they attach to the shells over a couple of weeks—creating what’s known as spat-on-shell. These shell-based reefs provide new oysters with a place to grow and enable us to rebuild reefs more quickly.

What started on a dinner plate becomes the foundation for a living reef—supporting marine life, improving water quality, and strengthening our coastal ecosystems.

What’s your favorite oyster fact to drop at pawties?

An oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day—that’s about the size of a full bathtub, cleaned by a single oyster, every single day.

What’s the most unexpected part of working with oysters every day?

How much I love what I am doing, I was always an ocean lover, and have always taken little from the land, choosing to give back to mother nature instead, but I cannot believe that I get to do this amazing and important work everyday, it’s not work, it’s a passion and I love helping to move this work forward. 

What’s an easy way someone in Boston can get involved without knowing anything about oysters?

Talking to local restaurants about the importance of shell recycling and encouraging them to participate, visiting our volunteer page for opportunities to get involved, or perhaps reaching out to an organization that wants to support our work. We recently rebuilt our website, and you can find a wealth of valuable information on it.

It’s easy to overlook something as small as an oyster, but the ripple effect they create is anything but small. From cleaner water to stronger shorelines and thriving marine life, it’s the little things that really add up.

A big thank you to Liv for sharing the story behind the shells, and for the work happening every day to bring our coastal waters back to life. If you’re curious to learn more or get involved, it’s well worth diving in.