There was once a time when oyster beds were so plentiful in the New York City area that oysters were given away as bar food. Then pollution and environmental degradation killed them off entirely.

Coastal Louisiana which supplies New Orleans restaurants with a treasure trove of fresh seafood is facing ongoing environmental challenges, made worse by the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Before the 2005 hurricanes, Louisiana harvested 40% of the nation’s oysters. The storms destroyed the equivalent of over one entire year’s production.

Louisiana needs coastal restoration.