For Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar founders Sean Cook and Matt Piccinin, every day is Earth Day.

The business partners are not only living out their dream of owning an oyster bar that provides high-quality seafood and drinks in a welcoming, laid-back environment, but they are also doing their part to protect the ocean that feeds both the planet and their guests.

For the seafood franchise brand, making responsible seafood choices is one of the best ways to ensure healthier oceans. And that starts with sustainable seafood caught or farmed with minimal environmental and social impacts.

“Our oysters come from farms, not the ocean, to allow the wild oysters to take care of the bay,” Piccinin says. “Oysters are extremely important to the ecosystem, and overfishing can destroy them. The Apalachicola Oyster Fishery in Florida recently shut down through 2025 due to overfishing to allow the wild oysters time to reproduce. It’s similar to what happened 20 years ago in the Chesapeake Bay, when nearly 90% of the oysters died off.”

Currently, 93% of wild fish populations are considered fully-fished or overfished.

By partnering with sustainable fisheries, Shuckin’ Shack is also able to control quality. “Oyster farms are more regulated,” Piccinin says. “For instance, when we buy 100 oysters, we know we’re getting 100 oysters, and they’re all right around three inches.”

But not all farm-raised seafood is desirable, especially when it comes to shrimp. “Depending on the industry, farming can be either good or bad,” Piccinin says. “We only serve wild shrimp caught off the Gulf of Mexico, because farm-raised shrimp is often grown in less than ideal environments.” 

The high levels of pesticides, antibiotics and other chemicals used to prevent disease in crowded industrial shrimp farms can also pose threats to consumer health.

Therefore, the first step of knowing if your seafood is sustainable is identifying the source. And that’s where Shuckin’ Shack makes it easy. “Everything that’s on our menu is sourced, so our customers know exactly where it came from,” Piccinin says. “Our crab legs come from Alaska. Our lobster comes from Maine. We are fully transparent and use it as a way to inform and educate our customers.”

Shuckin’ Shack’s commitment to sustainability also extends far beyond its menu. Part of the James Beard Foundation’s Smart Catch Program, the family-friendly seafood restaurant has discontinued the use of all styrofoam and plastic products with the exception of garbage bags, using sugar cane souffle cups and straws and biodegradable products. “We took a close look at all of the products that we were using, and if it didn’t break down, we eliminated it,” Piccinin says. 

In collaboration with the Plastic Ocean Project and Surf Rider Foundation, Shuckin’ Shack currently has 10 locations that are certified Ocean Friendly Establishments, and by 2022, all of its 16 locations across five states will carry the certification. 

“We live by the mantra that the majority of our menu comes from the ocean, so if we don’t do our part to protect it, we won’t have food to serve to our guests,” Piccinin says. “We want to be the perfect place for members of the community to come and drink a cold one, watch their favorite sports games, indulge in some crab legs and leave knowing that together we’re all doing our part to protect the ocean and its wildlife.”

The startup costs for a Shuckin’ Shack franchise range from $234,200 to $541,350. The franchise fee is $37,500. To learn more about franchising with Shuckin’ Shack, visit https://www.shuckinshackfranchise.com/.

ABOUT SHUCKIN’ SHACK

Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar grew out of a vision for a local establishment that would appeal to families of all ages. A place where friends and family can enjoy fresh, delicious meals and creative cocktails in an environment that exudes relaxation. Shuckin' Shack offers its guests a "lifestyle experience" in addition to exceptional seafood. The brand started as a 900-square-foot shack in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, in 2007 and began franchising in 2014. Today, Shuckin' Shack has grown to 16 locations across five states, and soon to be six, with several more locations slated to open by the end of 2021. To learn more about Shuckin’ Shack, visit http://www.theshuckinshack.com.