Oysters play a critical ecological and economic role in bays and estuaries. They filter large volumes of water daily, provide habitat for aquatic organisms, and are an economically important commercial fishery. Additionally, the health of oysters is important to the ecosystem of the bay, as they serve as a viable indicator species for water quality changes. To minimize risks of introducing pathogens back into the environment, oyster shell recycling programs quarantine recycled shells before placing them back into the bay as part of restoration efforts. This study evaluates how temperature and humidity influence the degradation of residual oyster tissue by simulating how unshucked oyster shells are cured (or, “quarantined”) through the recycling pathway. We compare the results of two studies (one completed between 2022-2023 and the other is ongoing) to better understand the rates at which tissue degrades based on location within quarantine pile and the orientation of the shell halves. Data collected during the 2022-2023 study suggests expedited degradation within the interior compared to the top of the curing piles. However, the effects of pile alteration (or “rotation”) and shell orientation during deployment were not fully examined. The current study incorporates updated oyster shell recycling practices and assesses seasonal variation, shell orientation, and the effects of curing pile rotation on degradation rates. Findings from this research will inform a science-based Best Management Practices (BMPs) document to guide future oyster shell quarantine protocols in Texas.