Local 13 Year Old Returns 23,000 Clams to Jupiter Inlet in Major Environmental Restoration Effort

JUPITER, Fla. — June 12, 2026 — In a remarkable contribution to local marine conservation, 13-year-old Jupiter resident Isaac Nelson, alongside members of his youth environmental organization, the Eco Scouts, have successfully returned approximately 23,000 native clams to the waters of the Jupiter Inlet.

The large-scale restoration effort is designed to improve water quality, support marine biodiversity, and help rebuild a species that was once abundant in local waters.

“Ask most longtime locals when they last saw a live clam in the inlet, and many couldn’t tell you,” said Nelson. “Healthy clam beds were once common here, but they’ve become increasingly rare. Clams are critical to our marine ecosystem. They provide food for marine life and naturally filter the water, allowing more sunlight to reach seagrass beds.”

The project began six months ago when Nelson located just 30 native clams from local waters. Those clams were transported to the University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, where researchers, under the proper permits of Dr. Todd Osborne, successfully spawned them, ultimately producing approximately 23,000 juvenile clams.

Returning these clams to local Jupiter waters, the Eco Scouts placed marine grade mesh bags in strategic locations along the inlet, protecting the clams from predation while still allowing them to reestablish their populations. Additional clams were joyfully tossed into the water like celebratory confetti, renourishing local waters.

The large-scale clam deployment is part of the Eco Scouts’ ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, marine conservation, and hands-on education.

Through a partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, the Eco Scouts also built a permanent mangrove nursery at the Jupiter Lighthouse, supplying it with over 3,000 mangroves grown by local children. These mangroves will be planted along the water below the Jupiter Lighthouse once the current shoreline construction project is complete. This mangrove nursery will then be used to replenish shorelines around the inlet for generations to come.

Isaac has also led the charge to bring Vertical Oyster Gardens to local Jupiter waters. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day. Utilizing recycled oyster shells collected from local restaurants by Tom Twyford’s team at The West Palm Beach Fishing Club, the Eco Scouts have led community outreach events, where these recycled shells are strung onto steel wires and hung on local docks. To date, Isaac and his Eco Scouts have successfully hung and distributed 120 vertical oyster gardens in local waters, which when mature will naturally filter up to 1,500,000 gallons of water per day!

“This project demonstrates what young people can accomplish when they are given the opportunity to lead and serve their community,” said Isaac. “Every clam we release, every mangrove we plant, every oyster garden we hang, represents an investment in the future health of the Jupiter Inlet and the wildlife that depends on it.”

Isaac’s efforts are bringing national attention to local restoration. He spoke during World Oceans Week in both Los Angeles and New York, sharing the stage at the Explorers Club with marine conservation giants like the Cousteaus, and National Geographic Explorer at Large Dr Sylvia Earle, and Palm Beach’s own Gabrielle McGee of Future Waves. He is a 3x Future Waves Scholar, Go Blue Award Winner, and The Cox Conserves Planet Protector.

Community leaders and environmental advocates praised the Eco Scout project as an example of youth-driven conservation making a measurable impact on local ecosystems.

You can support the Eco Scouts by donating funds for environmental education or by donating native trees to support the shoreline restoration. If you are a local dock owner and wish to have the Eco Scouts come hang vertical oyster gardens at your property, please contact @eco.Isaac for more information