Town recycles thousands of shells from Oyster Festival for harbor sanctuary
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino joined with town officials to showcase the thousands of oyster shells which were collected during the weekend of the Oyster Festival, which will be recycled through the Town of Oyster Bay’s Shell Recycling Program.
About four tons of shells were transported by town aquaculturists to a curing facility, where they remain for several months prior to being strategically returned to the harbor to assist in the growth of new shellfish.
The supervisor explained that shells provide an excellent source of habitat for young shellfish to grow and mature, offering protection from weather conditions and predators.
“It’s amazing what can happen if we just let Mother Nature take its course – with just a little help from us,” Supervisor Saladino said. “These shells offer great protection from weather conditions, and also help defend growing shellfish from predators. They are essential to our waterways and local marine environment, as they filter water through their feeding mechanisms.”
According to the Long Island Oyster Growers Association, the local shellfishing industry generates about $30 million per year.
The Town of Oyster Bay’s Shell Recycling Program follows a recent town initiative that oversaw the addition of 500,000 clam and oyster seedlings into the waters along the town’s north shore, the final phase of a 2024 plan to plant roughly 6 million shellfish seedlings in an effort to enhance water quality.
Any restaurant owner interested in partnering with the town on the Shell Recycling Program can visit the town’s website for more information, at www.oysterbaytown.com/shellrecycling.
