Seize the day, seed the bay!

CCE of Nassau County, through funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Long Island Sound Futures Fund, has created a replicable volunteer framework for community oyster gardening.

Oyster gardening in the non-commercial, volunteer-based aquaculture program for the restoration of oysters. Oyster gardening allows community members to be directly involved in oyster restoration.

Why oysters? Oyster reefs were once widespread throughout NY waterways leading up to the early 1900’s. Urbanization, industrialization, over harvesting, and disease led to a rapid decline in historic oyster populations. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day contributing to better water quality, habitat stabilization, and reefs provide erosion mitigation.

Residents Forward volunteers with Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte cleaning oysters for restoration in Manhasset Bay

When we receive spat-on-shell the spat are only 4-6mm big

As volunteers care for the spat, they grow to form clusters

Spat-on-shell are kept in oyster garden cages hung off docks in between cleaning sessions

Manhasset Bay Yacht Club cleaning session

Volunteers take measurements of the spat to track growth

During cleaning sessions volunteers check for predators in the cages so they can be removed

Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte with some Port Washington volunteers

Bring Back your Backyards

Oyster Gardening - the non-commercial aquaculture of oysters by community members for their community.

Teaching our future generations about environmental stewardship, water quality, and community awareness while raising the next generation of oysters.
Through oyster gardening, as a community, we are building towards healthier waterways and a healthier Long Island future.
Oyster reefs bring life to the bays. Crabs, fish, and other marine animals use the reefs as habitat. These reefs, if left unharvested, will clean our waterways and bring life back to our bays for years to come.