Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino joined with members of the Town’s Environmental team to harvest kelp from Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, together with local environmental partners. The Town, Friends of the Bay and Cornell Cooperative, each harvested lines of kelp to use in helping improve water quality in Oyster Bay. Additionally, through a new partnership with the Grenville Baker Boys & Girls Club, local youth participate in kelp harvesting to achieve a hands-on experience in marine conservation and sustainable environmental practices.

“The Town of Oyster Bay’s kelp harvesting program has resulted in the cultivating and harvesting of thousands of pounds of sugar kelp from our north shore marinas,” explained Supervisor Saladino. “Kelp farming is a sustainable practice that enhances biodiversity, provides habitats for marine life, and improves water quality by reducing excess nitrogen and carbon in the ecosystem. The harvested kelp is repurposed as a nutrient-rich fertilizer for Town parks and gardens, promoting eco-friendly practices throughout the community.”

Each winter, kelp lines are planted at marina locations in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, Tappen Beach and TOBAY Beach, as well as in Oyster Bay Harbor and Cold Spring Harbor Conservation Management Areas. for prime cultivation periods until spring months when it gets harvested. Since the inception of the program, the Town now successfully grows over 3,000 feet of kelp – the equivalent of 10 football fields. For more information regarding this program and other environmental initiatives, visit www.oysterbaytown.com or call the Department of Environmental Resources at (516) 677-5943.