Cornell Cooperative Extension

Nassau County
Oyster project 1

Oyster Restoration

oyster restoration

Oyster Restoration

oyster cleaning volunteers

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

Long Island Oyster Restoration Initiative

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. 

Want to learn more about this project, click here for Frequently asked Questions.

Want to get involved? Partnering organizations include Residents Forward, Port Washington Estates Association, Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, Manhasset Bay Association, Safe Harbor Capri Marina, Manhasset Bay Sportsman Club, Transition Town and Boy Scout Troop 7G, Port Washington. 

Educational Resources

Animals on Oyster Reefs - What animals will I see in and on my oyster gardens?

Oyster Predators - What animals eat oysters? What animals are harmful to my oyster gardens?

How to Count Your Spat  - How do you tell if you have a living spat or a spat scar?

Measuring Your Spat  - How do I measure my spat to ensure good growth?

Nicole Maliagros, Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, created a how-to video for oyster gardening. Check it out!




Last updated July 24, 2026

Natural Resources

Why Oysters?

Did you know that New York was called the “Big Oyster” before it was the “Big Apple”? New York Oysters were shipped globally and sold by the millions. They provide ecosystem services and are considered keystone ecosystem engineers.

Better than your Britta Filter!

Oysters are filter feeders meaning they filter phytoplankton as food. But oysters also filter out suspended particles from the water like pollutants. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day!

Provide Habitat

Oysters are reef building organisms. These 3D reefs provide habitat for all kinds of animals - crabs, shrimp, fish, and more!

Protecting Shorelines

For hundreds of years oyster reefs acted as a natural coastal protection from major storms and waves. By reducing wave energy, we see a reduction in flooding and erosion prevention. 

Long Island Oyster Growers Association

To learn about the Long Island Oyster Growers Association, visit their website at https://www.liogany.org

Events

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What is Oyster Gardening?

Oyster gardening a volunteer-based community program involving the farming of oysters for restoration. The program allows for residents to be directly involved in the restoration of and connect with their waterways.

Step 1

Obtain your cage and spat-on-shell from CCE Nassau. Secure your garden cage to your dock and ensure it can’t get loose. 

Step 2

On a biweekly schedule, gather your volunteers for cleaning sessions. During these sessions you will remove all animals and predators from the cages, clean all mud and biofouling from the oysters and cages, and record growth measurements. The main goal is to care for these oysters while they are in one of the most vulnerable life stages.

Step 3

At the end of the growing season and when the oysters have grown bigger than 1 inch, CCE Nassau will coordinate deployment to an oyster reef restoration site.