Coastal Carolina University marine biology professor Keith Walters is leading the Coastal Oyster Recycling and Restoration Initiative (CORRI) and looking for community volunteers to help with the project beginning this Saturday, April 11, and continuing Saturdays through this month, with reef construction slated for May.

Walters and a team of students and volunteers are bagging oyster shells collected from area restaurants and using them to rebuild depleted oyster reefs in local waters. Dates for bagging the shells are: April 11, 18 and 25 at 9 a.m. at the field behind the center for Marine and Wetlands Studies (Husted Road across from University Boulevard). Volunteers will fill mesh bags with shells to be used later to rebuild the reefs.

Each bagging session will last until about noon.

Dates for constructing the oyster reefs are May 2, 1 p.m. at Litchfield Causeway and May 16, 1 p.m., Pawleys Island Causeway; May 17 at 2 p.m. and May 23 at 7 a.m. with locations to be determined later. Volunteers should be prepared to get muddy; sturdy footwear like boots recommended. Gloves and water will be provided.

For more information or to contribute to the project, contact Walters at 843-349-2477 or kwalt@coastal.edu. Or visit corri01.businesscatalyst.com.