Alabama oysters

Move over Flavortown! Birmingham native, author and chef Martie Duncan has made her mark on the Food Network, taking part as a contestant and judge on a variety of shows. She talks with Quick-Fire Quips host Baillee Majors about the TV channel and her books while dishing on the best way to make a summer-time tomato sandwich. Plus... a secret confession!

Mark Berte is the Executive Director of the Alabama Coastal Foundation. He talks with Quick-Fire Quips host Baillee Majors about the ACF's mission, the importance of sea turtle conservation, and his favorite coastal animal (hint: it's not a sea turtle). Plus, how Alabama the Beautiful is living up to the name!

A new celebration for oysters is taking place in Mobile this year. The Mobile County Wildlife and Conservation Association, Alabama’s oldest organization dedicated to preserving the state’s wildlife along the Gulf Coast, is hosting their inaugural Summer Celebration for honoring Mobile Bay’s Oysters on Aug. 24.

Oyster restoration in Coastal Alabama is continuing with funding through the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resources Damage Assessment Program. $7 million to aid the efforts has been approved by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

An up-and-coming organization is making waves along the Gulf Coast. Eco Clean Marine is a non-profit that focuses on keeping waterways along the Gulf Coast clean.

After seven years of starting the program, the Alabama Coastal Foundation has received a $5 million grant to expand its Oyster Shell Recycling Program. This is an initiative that supports the environment and provides habitats for marine life.

$100 is on the table for fifth grade teachers in Alabama. Educators could win the cash for their classroom through the Coastal Kids Quiz program, which is put on by the Mobile nonprofit Alabama Coastal Foundation.

Oyster habitats are rapidly disappearing around the world. That doesn’t just mean losing a delicacy. Oysters also play a major role in coastal environments. A team of scientists on Mobile Bay is working to turn that loss around. That effort may have national impact.

Holiday kitchens may have a harder time finding oysters from Alabama this season due to a decision from the Alabama Marine Resource Division.

For some people, oysters are something you serve up on the half shell. But, the mollusks also play a major role in the environment and economy of Alabama. On a Saturday morning, a pair of small boats ease up to a cove at Lightning Point near Bayou La Batre. On board are a handful of students, marine scientist, and volunteers. The passenger list also includes about sixteen 16 million baby oysters.