Officials help seed Oyster Bay

Community Events Officials help seed Oyster Bay … Comments Posted on November 12, 2026 Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilmembers Laura Maier and Vicki Walsh, Town Clerk Rich LaMarca and Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato joined members of the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District and environmental group Friends of the Bay to place more than 20,000 adult oysters in Oyster Bay Harbor. Town of Oyster Bay Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilmembers Laura Maier and Vicki Walsh, Town Clerk Rich LaMarca and Receiver of Taxes Jeffrey Pravato joined members of the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District and environmental group Friends of the Bay to place more than 20,000 adult oysters in Oyster Bay Harbor. The town was selected by the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District to receive the oysters, which were donated by local oyster gardeners. Many of the gardeners participated in the recent Oyster Fest . “These adult oysters complement the millions of seedlings that we plant throughout the year from various sources, including those grown out in our shellfish hatchery,” Saladino said. “The town’s successful shellfish restoration program not only helps replenish the population of these mollusks out in the waterway, it helps protect the quality of our most natural resource as the shellfish help filter water through their feeding mechanisms. In fact, a single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, making shellfish Mother Nature’s most valuable marine cleansers.” Several times a year, town officials help replenish shellfish populations along the North and South shores of Oyster Bay through a seeding program. Working with local environmental experts, including Friends of the Bay and the town’s Department of Environmental Resources, officials identify areas with suitable conditions for shellfish growth and spawning. Adult shellfish can also provide habitat for young shellfish to grow and mature by offering protection from weather and predators. “Friends of the Bay is excited to be working with the Town of Oyster Bay and the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District to place oysters in Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor,” said Christine Suter, executive director of Friends of the Bay. “Our hope is that because these are adult oysters, they will spawn and help bolster existing oyster populations while working to improve water quality.” For more scene & seen event photos, click here. About the Author All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines . Schneps Media does not endorse the views shared by readers in our comment sections.