Suffolk Reporter

On October 26, Councilwoman Jane Bonner and Coastal Steward Long Island volunteer Brian McCaffery participated in the Shellfish Restoration Project event at Mt. Sinai Harbor. The initiative involved placing 50,000 oysters in both the Mt. Sinai and Port Jefferson Harbor sites, marking the final oyster release of 2024 for the project. These oysters were cultivated at the Town of Brookhaven Mariculture Facility until May and June 2024.

The oysters, measuring 20 mm, were donated to Coastal Steward Long Island, a not-for-profit organization that collaborates with the Town of Brookhaven. The group nurtures these oysters as part of their Mariculture Restoration Program before planting them in October on a designated Town Management Area in Port Jefferson Harbor.

Coastal Steward Long Island received a total of 75,000 small Eastern oysters from the Town of Brookhaven Mariculture facility. These were divided into 75 bags and placed into large growing cages with volunteer assistance. The cages were submerged, and throughout summer and fall, volunteers monitored the health and growth of the oysters. Every two weeks, they removed the oysters from their cages for cleaning to prevent algae overgrowth or other organisms that could hinder their development.

For further details about the Coastal Steward Shellfish Restoration Project, visit www.coastalsteward.org.