After oysters are shucked and eaten, their shells can still serve an important purpose: helping rebuild oyster reefs along the Texas coast.

The South Texas Coastal Initiative collects oyster shells from restaurants and events, including San Antonio's Fiesta Oyster Bake, and sends them to the Sink Your Shucks oyster recycling program, operated by Texas A&M University and the Harte Research Institute in Corpus Christi.

The shells are used to restore oyster reefs, which provide habitat for marine life and help filter water in the Gulf of Mexico.