Our Mission
South Fork Sea Farmers empowers and inspires our community—especially young people—to become active stewards of the marine environment through education, hands-on mariculture initiatives, and collaborative restoration efforts. We are dedicated to fostering a sustainable future while also providing educational opportunities and scholarships to support the next generation of marine leaders.
Our vision is a thriving, resilient marine ecosystem sustained by an informed and engaged community—residents and visitors alike—united by a shared commitment to sustainable practices. Together, we aim to protect our coastlines and preserve vibrant marine life for generations to come. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we are proud to turn this vision into action.




How We Got Here
Since the 1980’s, East Coast waters have experienced devastating shellfish losses due to overfishing and damaging algae blooms. In response, the Town of East Hampton established the East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery to replenish depleted shellfish stocks.
In 2006, recognizing the growing interest in shellfish cultivation, the hatchery launched shellfish culture workshops. These workshops catered to a diverse group of participants, including visitors, students and local community members, offering a hands-on five part educational program that included tours of the facility.

Our Commitment to Marine Conservation
Building on this foundation, in 2016 a group of eco-conscious residents from South Fork formed a cooperative to expand existing programs under the East Hampton Shellfish Education and Enhancement Directive (EHSEED). This initiative included an oyster-growing community cooperative–or oyster gardening program–that connected with the hatchery to offer additional educational opportunities and support for the Peconic Estuary’s threatened ecosystems.
This approach to environmental stewardship has been used in similar programs across eastern Long Island including:
The Shinnecock Restoration Project (ShiRP) in Southampton Town is partnering with Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) to reseed the bay as part of their ongoing water quality research.
A Save the Bay shellfish restoration project launched in May of 2015 in Moriches Bay when 50,000 oysters were seeded.
Suffolk Projects in Aquaculture Training (SPAT)–a part of Cornell Cooperative Extension originally launched in 2002 on the North Fork–now has over 100 members.

Building a Sustainable Future with Reefs
Today, South Fork Sea Farmers has broadened its initiatives to include reef construction. By advancing from mere oyster seeding to the actual creation of oyster habitats, we are bolstering the sustainability and resilience of our marine ecosystems. This comprehensive strategy not only lays a robust foundation for oyster populations but also boosts biodiversity and fortifies our natural defenses against coastal erosion and climate change, protecting our environment for future generations.

Join Our Community of Eco-Volunteers
We have come a long way but there is still a critical need for ongoing education and continued action to maintain water quality, protect the shoreline and increase sustainable food sources, which is vital not just locally, but globally. Join us to protect and restore our waters–our planet depends on it.

Local Commitment to Ongoing Effort
The start-up and growth phases are financed by a combination of individual and family memberships in the project. The EH Town Shellfish Hatchery staff implements the educational program and provides training. Lectures and workshop offerings take place at the Shellfish Hatchery’s facilities in Montauk and Springs. The South Fork Natural History Museum(SOFO) provides a meeting venue and enhances awareness and membership in the program by disseminating information to its membership. Veterinarians International, a non-profit organization committed to enhancing the health of humans, animals and the environment, promotes the project to its affiliates and local residents. South Fork Sea Farmers helps facilitate further education programs and handles fund-raising.

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