Port Washington, NY

Building Volunteer-Driven Oyster Restoration on Long Island Sound

With support from the Long Island Sound Resilience Grant Writing Assistance (GWA) Program, in December 2023 Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County was awarded $250,000 from the Long Island Sound Futures Fund to fund the project – Building Volunteer-Driven Oyster Restoration on Long Island Sound: Implementation and development of a framework for a community Oyster Gardening Program.

The program aims to develop a volunteer training program to engage people to cultivate oyster gardens for reef restoration; source and procure spat-on-shell oysters for gardening; conduct a pilot project in Manhasset Bay; and deliver an education campaign to teach 500 residents at 15 events about shellfish restoration in Manhasset Bay, Town of North Hempstead, New York. Project will provide a framework to contribute to restoration of oyster reefs an Important Coastal Habitat of Long Island Sound.

LIS Resilience Grant Writing Assistance Program Details:

Grant Writing Consultant: Ken Schlather Consulting; Grant Writing Assistance Award: $3,000

Grant Writing Consultant: Richard Eisendorf; Grant Writing Assistance Award: $6,800

Impact Information:
In the 2024 pilot year of the Program Nassau CCE produced more than 20,000 oysters back to Manhasset Bay and an anticipate over 50,000 oysters back to the Bay from the 2025 growing season. In April 2025 Nassau CCE did a reef assessment to determine reef survival and growth. Growth of the oysters were observed with an 87% survival. In the pilot year more than 80 volunteers were involved in the oyster gardening program and in 2025 that number is anticipated to grown to more than 150 volunteers.

Period of Completion: 2023-2025

Total Cost: $365,200

Funding Sources: NFWF Long Island Sound Futures Fund, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, Long Island Sound Resilience Grant Writing Assistance Program (USEPA).

Permits Needed: NYSDEC Permit - License to Collect or Possess

Contact Info:

Michael Fiorentino, Cornell University Cooperative Extension Nassau County, mf628@cornell.edu