Officials, Environmental Groups Partner to Put the Oyster in Oyster Bay

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilwoman Laura Maier, Councilwoman Vicki Walsh, Town Clerk Rich LaMarca and Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato joined with members of the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District and environmental partners Friends of the Bay to deploy more than 20,000 adult oysters into Oyster Bay Harbor. The Town was selected by the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District for this donation of oysters from local oyster gardeners, many of whom participated in the recent Oyster Fest in the community.

“These adult oysters complement the millions of seedlings that we plant throughout the year from various sources, including those grown out in our shellfish hatchery,” Supervisor Saladino explained. “The Town’s successful shellfish restoration program not only helps replenish the population of these mollusks out in the waterway, it helps protect the quality of our most natural resource as the shellfish help filter water through their feeding mechanisms. In fact, a single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, making shellfish Mother Nature’s most valuable marine cleansers.”

Several times a year, Town officials help replenish the shellfish population on both the north and south shores of Oyster Bay through a highly successful seeding program. Working with local environmental experts, including Friends of the Bay and the Town’s Department of Environmental Resources, officials identify appropriate areas where the seeds will thrive, selecting a location that has optimal bay bottom conditions to help support spawning. Adult shellfish in particular help provide an excellent habitat for young shellfish to grow and mature, as they provide protection from weather conditions and predators.

“Friends of the Bay is excited to be working with the Town of Oyster Bay and the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District to place oysters in Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor,” said Christine Suter, Executive Director of Friends of the Bay. “Our hope is that because these are adult oysters, they will spawn and help bolster existing oyster populations while working to improve water quality.”

For more information on the Town’s shellfish program, including how to get involved as a program partner, visit oysterbaytown.com/shellrecycling.