About Rink2Reef
Hockey sticks are made from non-recyclable materials and when broken or no longer user, typically end up in our landfills. Rink2Reef uses these otherwise useless sticks to create habitat for oysters, sponges and other filter-feeding aquatic organisms that remove pollutants and excessive nutrients from waterways.
Broken sticks are constructed into a reef and suspended from docks by homeowners, business owners and environmental enthusiasts allowing the structures to be home to up to 400 oysters and other small aquatic sea life.
Why Oysters Are Important
Oysters are a type of shell fish found in both saltwater and brackish estuaries. They are filter feeders, which means oysters strain the water around them feeding on plankton and other particles of food while removing pollutants. A single oyster in optimal conditions can filter as many as 50 gallons of water per day. As few as 100 oysters in an small area can filter bad nutrients and spit out crystal-clear water at a rate of 5,000 gallons a day.
With Rink2Reef, oysters seek out and attach to the artificial hockey stick reefs. The 9.17-cubic- foot hockey-stick units become home to as many as 400 oysters. A single Rink2Reef habitat could clean 20,000 gallons of water per day. Oysters are nature’s perfect water filter, constantly cycling and improvingv water quality.
Become a Part of the Effort
• Collect broken hockey sticks to be made into artificial reefs
• Participate in reef construction
• Host a reef from off your dock or business
• Raise awareness about oyster restoration efforts
Drop-off to mail unwanted sticks to
Rink2Reef
8859 Mistletoe Drive Ste A
Easton, Maryland 21601
