Pictured above (from left to right): Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Town Councilman Tom Hand, Town Councilman Lou Imbroto, and Town Councilwoman Michele Johnson join with volunteers from the North Oyster Bay Baymen’s Association.

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilwoman Michele Johnson today joined with members of the Town’s Department of Environmental Resources and volunteers from the North Oyster Bay Baymen’s Association (NOBBA) to reseed Oyster Bay Harbor with over 250,000 oysters grown out and matured by the Town through FLUPSY (FLoating UPweller System) silos.  This initiative improves water quality, bolsters the local economy and improves the resiliency of our coastal communities by restoring shellfish populations to the harbor.“Oyster Bay Harbor has long been considered one of the crown jewels of Oyster Bay, and I’m proud to say that under my administration we are now doing more than ever before to improve its water quality,” Supervisor Saladino stated. “The Town, along with volunteers from the North Oyster Bay Baymen’s Association, is heading out on the waters and reseeding the harbor with 250,000 oysters which have been grown out and matured through the Town’s FLUPSY system.”

“Oyster Bay Harbor has long been considered one of the crown jewels of Oyster Bay, and I’m proud to say that under my administration we are now doing more than ever before to improve its water quality,” Supervisor Saladino stated. “The Town, along with volunteers from the North Oyster Bay Baymen’s Association, is heading out on the waters and reseeding the harbor with 250,000 oysters which have been grown out and matured through the Town’s FLUPSY system.”The Town’s FLUPSY program, short for Floating Upweller System, has been integral to increasing shellfish populations around Oyster Bay Harbor.  At the beginning of the summer, the Town purchased seed oysters from Cornell Cooperative Extension and placed them in the FLUPSYs.  This allowed the seed oysters to mature and grow out through a steady diet of nutrient-rich water and protection from natural predators such as crabs.

The Town’s FLUPSY program, short for Floating Upweller System, has been integral to increasing shellfish populations around Oyster Bay Harbor.  At the beginning of the summer, the Town purchased seed oysters from Cornell Cooperative Extension and placed them in the FLUPSYs.  This allowed the seed oysters to mature and grow out through a steady diet of nutrient-rich water and protection from natural predators such as crabs.

“This purchase was largely made by reinvesting into the waters the revenue generated from shellfish licensing permits,” Supervisor Saladino added. “Protecting our natural assets is critically important for our Town, and by restoring and reseeding our shellfish populations, we not only strengthen the local economy, but also ensure we are working to keep our waters clean. Quite simply, there is no Oyster Bay without oysters!”Councilwoman Johnson noted that shellfish filter up to 50 gallons of water a day through their feeding process, so the preservation of Oyster Bay Harbor’s water quality through the repopulation of shellfish is an important component of making the water cleaner for swimming, fishing, boating, and all life in the Harbor.

Councilwoman Johnson noted that shellfish filter up to 50 gallons of water a day through their feeding process, so the preservation of Oyster Bay Harbor’s water quality through the repopulation of shellfish is an important component of making the water cleaner for swimming, fishing, boating, and all life in the Harbor.“I am proud to be a part of such a great environmental initiative that will preserve the quality, resiliency, and natural beauty of our local waterways for generations to come,” Councilwoman Johnson said. “Protecting our natural assets is top priority and I’m proud to announce that the Town is currently looking to expand this initiative to the South Shore to help repopulate and reseed the Great South Bay – as the Great South Bay once boasted a wealth of shellfish but is now practically devoid.”

“I am proud to be a part of such a great environmental initiative that will preserve the quality, resiliency, and natural beauty of our local waterways for generations to come,” Councilwoman Johnson said. “Protecting our natural assets is top priority and I’m proud to announce that the Town is currently looking to expand this initiative to the South Shore to help repopulate and reseed the Great South Bay – as the Great South Bay once boasted a wealth of shellfish but is now practically devoid.”

For more information on the Town’s FLUPSY program, please contact the Town’s Department of Environmental Resources at (516) 677-5943.