Marine Ecology Enhancement Fund: Scale Expansion of Oyster Shells Recycling

Often treated as trash, oyster shells are actually very useful for restoring oyster reefs and enhancing marine ecology.

Since 2021, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has been working with The Nature Conservancy on a project to recycle oyster shells for use in restoring oyster reefs along the newly built seawall for the Three-runway System at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), with an aim to improving the biodiversity and fishery resources of the waters near the Third Runway and protecting shorelines. The project team collects discarded and cleaned oyster shells from participating hotels and restaurants on a weekly basis. The collected shells are then sent to a recycling site for sorting and natural weathering, which removes any remaining organic materials and helps avoid the risk of spreading diseases or introducing parasites into the water. Finally, the team delivers the recycled shells to locations suitable for oyster reef deployment and restoration, including the waters near the Third Runway and Tolo Harbour.

The project has achieved satisfactory results since its launch. In the past two years, the number of participating restaurants increased from five to 10, from which 46 tonnes oyster shells were collected, up from 18 tonnes in 2021. Based on these results, the Marine Ecology Enhancement Fund (MEEF) established by AAHK continued to provide funding support in 2023 and expanded the project’s scale, covering 15 participating hotels and restaurants, including the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, The Verandah at The Repulse Bay, The Peninsula Hong Kong, Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers and more.

As awareness grows regarding the importance of waste reduction and recycling, more members of the industries are interested in the recycling of oyster shells. As at the end of May 2024, the project team had conducted 520 rounds of oyster shell collection. The team expects to collect 50 tonnes of oyster shells in 2024, which will contribute to the development and restoration of larger-scale oyster reefs and help further improve the marine ecosystem. Apart from recycling, the team also takes the opportunity to support participating hotels and restaurants by organising staff engagement activities and delivering talks about environmental, social and governance principles.

Peter Lee, General Manager, Sustainability of AAHK, said, “Oyster reef restoration is effective in providing shelter for a wide variety of marine organisms. With the funding support from MEEF, we are delighted to expand the project’s scale in 2023. This project not only benefits marine ecology, but also promotes waste reduction in Hong Kong. We look forward to welcoming more hotels and restaurants to join this meaningful programme and make some positive change in our community.”

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