There is a very solid connection between the residents of Daniel Island, the DI Inshore Fishing Club, the SCDNR SCORE program and the Coastal Conservation Association. CCA is a registered 501-C charity with the mission to protect our local fisheries, improve water quality, and to create new habitat for all species of fish that live in our local waters. This is very similar to the mission of the DI Inshore Fishing Club. We have ten active members of the DIIFC that are also members of the CCA.

The Coastal Conservation Association formed the "Top Water Action Program" three years ago and work closely with the SCDNR SCORE Program (South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement). We collect oyster shells from roasts to be recycled back into our local waters. The process works by collecting the empty shells free of trash in barrels or dumping the shells in a trailer. The shells are quarantined for six months, tested for bacteria three times, bagged, and then placed back in the water. The oyster spat that floats in the water column will attach to the shells placed in the water and grow into a new oyster. This process can take between one to two years for new oysters to grow. The newly placed shells attract bait fish, shrimp, crabs, and more than 70 different species of fish within several months of being placed in the water. A single oyster can filter 55 gallons of water in a day thus improving the quality of the water in our rivers and creeks. Another immediate benefit of the bagged shells is that it helps prevent the erosion of the shore line from boat wakes and tidal action from wind and waves. This also helps the Spartina grass reestablish and grow along the shoreline.

The connection works like this. The Daniel Island POA has an annual fundraiser every year which involves having a big Oyster Roast. There are also numerous private parties that use the Pierce Park Pavilion to have oyster roasts throughout the Oyster eating season. This includes months that have an "R" in them or September through April. Volunteers from the DIIFC, CCA, and residents collect the shells. The shells are quarantined, tested, bagged, and reseeded back in the water. We will be reseeding bagged shells May 14, June 14, 16 and July 13. We will be putting more than 100 tons of bagged shells back into the Wando River this summer. The CCA’s "Top Water Action Committee" collected 3,773 bushels of shells this last season for a total of more than 207 thousand pounds. We collected 1,750 bushels from the Boone Hall Oyster Festival this year and over 250 Bushels from roasts on DI. There is a shortage of shells to be recycled in SC. With the recent tragic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico it is more important than ever to protect this valuable renewable resource. "Habitat today means fish for tomorrow." For more information or to help volunteer, please call Gary Keisler at 843-696-6274.