Seashells: Natural Treasures or Stinky Waste?
From Ancient Jewellery to Biomaterials.
My love of seashells began when I was ten, dashing barefoot along the beaches of Nassau - tangled salty hair, wet on my back.
Our cottage, nestled at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, opened onto a narrow path leading to postcard-white sands and the turquoise waters of Cable Beach.
Our playground.
After school, my siblings and I would race towards the sea - swimming, snorkelling, and sailing, always accompanied by Topsy, our Bahamian ‘Potcake’ dog.
When our grandmother Maria Luisa came to stay, we’d comb the shoreline for treasures - spiralling white shells, iridescent pinks, and sun-bleached coral fragments - dropped into my bucket, like trophies.
Now, my three-year-old granddaughter marvels at the same shells, enchanted by their colours and patterns.
Nature delights all ages!
Today, I mostly pause to admire and photograph seashells - leaving these salty masterpieces of nature where I find them.
Ahem, mostly….
Seashell Stories: some 32,000 years old!
On a road trip from Broome to Perth, Tom and I stumbled upon an intriguing quarry at Hamelin Pool. Billions of tiny white Cockle shells (Fragum Erugatum), deposited over 6,000 years, fused into a soft limestone-like material called Coquina.
Early settlers ingeniously used this material for building blocks when traditional resources were scarce. Today, Coquina is only quarried to restore historical structures, like the Old Pearler Restaurant in Denham.
Can you imagine living in a cottage made entirely of teeny, tiny shells? OOOOOHHH, so dreamy!
In Exmouth, I learned about 32,000-year-old shell beads unearthed at Mandu Mandu Creek, among the oldest jewellery ever found. Carefully pierced and likely threaded on sinew - I wonder who once wore them?
This discovery reminded me of the stunning Maireener shell necklaces - an ancient tradition passed down through generations in Tasmanian Aboriginal communities, especially among the women of the Furneaux Islands in the Bass Strait.
Artist Lola Greeno, whose fine threading work is showcased at The National Art Gallery learned her craft from her mother and mother-in-law. Her pieces celebrate her Pakana heritage and carry deep cultural significance.
'These belong to the women. All women have different stories to their necklaces… This is part of my cultural identity.' Lola Greeno - Watch her story here
Stinky Waste!
Globally, the seafood industry discards 6–8 million tons of shells annually. Most end up in landfills, dumped along coastlines or left to rot in open fields - yuk!
This calcium-rich waste holds untapped potential, and innovative biotech companies are reimagining it as a valuable resource.
One standout is TômTex, upcycling seafood waste into a luxurious, biobased alternative to leather. Goodbye, nasty pleather!
This upcycled material can be used for fashion, furniture and more. Would you wear these fab looks shown at New York Fashion Week? Stylish and groundbreaking!
Another clever innovator, Newtab-22, grinds discarded shells, mixes them with minerals and natural binders, and reimagines them into Sea Stone - a new, sustainable biomaterial.
Imagine these soft, shimmery Shelluminator wall panels in your home - gorgeous, functional and non-toxic.
Oysters - Not Just Delighting Foodies!
In New York Harbour, the Billion Oyster Project is restoring oyster reefs decimated by pollution and over-harvesting.
By repurposing discarded shells from local restaurants, the project creates habitats for marine life, improves the river’s water quality and protects riverbanks from erosion. By 2035, they aim to restore one billion oysters—a powerful example of using waste as a force for regeneration.
In Sydney, great to read Declan Bowring's article in the ABC about The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) inspiring work to restore more than 3 hectares of Australian Flat Oyster and Sydney Rock Oyster reefs in Sydney’s Georges River. Thanks to a $2 million grant from the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust, construction is set to begin before June 2025.
TNC has restored shellfish reefs in NSW since 2020. The results look promising, with biodiversity returning to the region and water quality improving.
Small Gestures, Big Impact.
These days, when I walk the beach, I still marvel at the clever design of seashells - tiny homes for more than 100,000 species of molluscs, growing as they do - but I now mostly pick up rubbish, inspired by organizations like Take 3 for the Sea, Sea Shepherd and Parley.
Every bit helps. And who doesn’t love a pristine beach?
Do you have a seashell memory - a unique find, or a keepsake passed down through generations?
Or maybe you’ve discovered a creative way shells are being given a second life? I’d love to hear!
PS. If you’ve enjoyed reading, please tap the love-heart or share, I’ll do a happy dance. Your support means the world to me!
Grazie mille amici xxx
Random Seashell Trivia
Most seashells spiral to the right (dextral). Left-spiraling (sinistral) shells are rare!