Over the first weekend of June, AYLUS Oyster Bay Branch participated in an educational oyster gardening workshop hosted jointly with the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor.
The event was conducted along the shores of the Long Island Sound and featured both hands-on oyster cultivation techniques and the broader importance of biodiversity to the marine ecosystems in the region.
Our team also learned about oyster gardening, a practice that helps to locally rehabilitate shellfish by growing oysters in protective cages before releasing them into the wild again to help restore native populations. We were taught about how oysters are natural water filters that improve water quality and how oyster reefs serve as valuable habitats for other sea creatures.
We learned about oyster cages and how to monitor oyster growth and health, mapped the Long Island Sound’s diversity by studying indigenous species of shellfish, addressed the environmental threats to shellfish habitats (pollution and global warming), and Interacted with local conservation leaders and asked how community efforts contribute to enabling long-term recovery of the ecosystem.
This experience sharpened our respect for how localized restoration processes amplify broad-scale environmental impact. It was an inspiring reminder that direct action, whether through oyster gardening or community engagement, is a key component in protecting and restoring the biodiversity of our local waters.
By learning first-hand from marine biologists and working hands-on with restoration equipment, we departed more informed and more motivated to continue making a positive difference on the health of Long Island Sound.
Written by: Amanda Li