In the pearl of Texas coast, oyster shells form new reefs

On the terrace of a seafood restaurant in Houston, Texas's largest city, a few ladies are enjoying a local oyster dish. Sitting in the shade of a palm tree on a warm winter's day, the diners have no idea that behind the restaurant a young woman is busy giving the shells a second life. Thanks to Shannon Batte, they will soon form part of a reef in Galveston Bay, six miles away. New oysters will settle and develop on these shells, which will also provide perfect shelters for crabs, shrimp and small fish that will feed larger ones and contribute to the diversity of the environment.