Auditor: City paid over $600K for non-existent oyster plan

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - A Virginia Beach official says the city has paid more than $600,000 for an oyster restoration plan that doesn’t exist.

In a report released Monday, city auditor Lyndon Remias tells media outlets that the city allocated the funds to help restore the Lynnhaven River oyster population.

The plan is to use oyster shells to build a sanctuary reef.

However, Remias says there isn’t a plan in place, and shells have been piling up at the city landfill for over six years.

The city gave the nonprofit organization Lynnhaven River NOW about $32,000 last year to collect shells from restaurants.

The group’s executive director Karen Forget says it takes time to gather enough shells for a sanctuary.

Remias is calling for the city to formalize the plan through a contractual agreement.