As part of our Operation Ecosystem Restoration (“OER”), in 2024 alone FoBB planted approximately 1.3 million shellfish in the Town of Brookhaven’s protected 4 acre sanctuary (managed by FoBB). This includes FoBB’s Spat-on-Shell (“SOS”) initiative – which planted 1 million juvenile oysters (on shell) – making enormous strides toward establishing a self-sustaining oyster population in Bellport Bay. FoBB’s primary water-related activities commence in April and are completed in November.
We are pleased to confirm that our oyster survival rates continue to improve each season. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCESC) has determined that FoBB’s oyster survival rate is “an excellent 75% survival rate” (above average), according to CCESC’s 2023 report.
As of 2024, FoBB, with assistance from our partners and volunteers, planted approximately 4.8 million shellfish in Bellport Bay.
Summer 2023 - Friends of Bellport Bay began a new initiative to purchase and deploy Spat-On-Shell (“SOS”) from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCESC) hatchery in Southold. SOS refers to the structure formed by oyster larvae, which grow into dense clusters known as oyster reefs. The Aquaculture Program at Cornell Hatchery grows oyster larvae into spat in a controlled laboratory environment, until they are large enough to plant on the Bay bottom. In summer of 2023, we purchased and deployed 400 cubic feet of SOS (500,000 oysters).
August 2023 -The David M Duffy Jr. Foundation, Center for Environmental Education and Discovery (CEED), and the Boys & Girls Club of Bellport participated in a week long collaboration in a marine program with FoBB. The Restoration Team members identified and recorded marine species in Bellport Bay, seine netted, counted and measured oysters for FoBB's aquaculture report, and planted approximately 60,000 oysters from our shoreline cage gardens into the sanctuary.
July 2023 - We planted 385,000 single oysters from Aeros Cultured Oyster Company in Southhold, which started from seed at 6-8mm, and were planted in the sanctuary when they reached over 45mm.
June 2023 - For more than 6 years, Brookhaven Town has donated hundreds of thousands of oysters to FoBB, collaborating on a mission to restore the Bay's ecosystem. This year, Craig Strong and his team donated another 75,000 oysters from their winter cage gardens in Mount Sinai Harbor to FoBB.
Our interns and volunteers transported the 75 bags of oysters from Mount Sinai Harbor down to Bellport Bay, and installed them into our cage gardens where they were continually and systematically monitored, cleaned, and assessed by FoBB interns all season. When they were 40mm or larger, they were released into the Town Management area in Bellport Bay, playing a vital role in providing healthy habitat for the ecosystem and marine species of the Bay.
September 2020 - We celebrated Labor Day by planting 30,000 oysters into Bellport Bay!
August 2020 - We planted 36,000 oysters into sanctuaries in Bellport Bay! The oysters had been growing all summer in garden cages along the Bellport shoreline and were finally ready to enter the sanctuary.
July 2020 - This is our FLUPSY (FLoating UPweller SYstem), and it works by pumping nutrient-rich water into mesh baskets where juvenile oysters live until they’re mature enough to thrive in open waters. The FLUPSY has been operating since 2019.
August 2020 - We hosted an educational seminar at the FLUPSY. This was a great opportunity for kids and adults to learn about FoBB’s mission, the oyster nurturing process in the FLUPSY, the planting of mature oysters on the Bay bottom, and to ask questions and share experiences about how we can all work together to improve the health of the Bay.
September 2019 - Board Members and Gregg Rivara (CCESC) transporting 30,000 oysters from the FoBB Community garden to plant in the sanctuary in Bellport Bay.
August 2019 - Taking oysters from a cage garden to release into the sanctuary.
June 2019 - Volunteers collecting bags of oysters at Cedar Beach, from The Town of Brookhaven. These oysters are grown in the Harbor and distributed to environmental groups to grow in cage gardens along the Bellport shoreline. They are then released into the environment when mature.
June 2019 - Governor Cuomo and FoBB President Thomas Schultz. In his commitment to improve water quality in Nassau & Suffolk Counties, Governor Cuomo visited Bellport Bay and recognized FoBB’s efforts & success in shellfish restoration.
August 2018 - Someone has to clean the cages! - Fireplace Garden.
July 2018 - Additional oysters from Cedar Beach - Academy Lane and Fireplace Oyster Gardens.
June 2018 - Sorting oysters from Cedar Beach and placing in oyster gardens.
November 2017 - Checking oyster colonies and planting additional oysters.
July 2017 - New oyster garden.
JUNE 2017 - Sorting oysters at Cedar Beach.
May 2017 - Fundraiser: Oysters and Champagne - Isabella Rossellini’s Mama Farm.
October 2016 - Third recording of oyster growth.
July 2016 - Second recording of oyster growth.
July 2016 - Meet the parents at Mother’s Beach in Bellport!
July 2016 - Planting of oysters from the Town of Brookhaven.
June 2016 - Planting scallops.
November 2015 - First Recording of Oyster Growth.
September 2015 - Second Planting.
July 2015 - First planting! Planting 30,000 oysters in Bellport Bay.
