The members of OSSC have participated in reef restoration projects funded by the USDA. Most of the growers are planting oysters in areas that are in the same body of water as their farms, at growing sanctuaries designated by the Department of Environmental Management. Oyster larvae attach themselves to empty shells in a lab. The OSSC farmers take these oysters attached to shells back to their farms and raise them until they grow to about an inch in size. At this point, the oysters and shells are ready for planting. Every year, Rob Krause, Jim Arnoux and Nick Papa plant these oysters in piles measuring 10 feet square within established reef sites.
