Re-establishing Eastern Long Island's Oyster Reefs

Re-establishing Eastern Long Island's Oyster Reefs

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Oysters date back to prehistoric times, with some scientists believing the first oysters appeared in the Triassic period during the time of dinosaurs. They have been a source of protein since the dawn of hu- mans, with evidence showing that early man roasted their oysters, as they lacked a proper oyster knife. They have been cultivated since 2000 BC in Japan. Oysters were considered a delicacy for the Greeks and Romans, a must-have for the early aristocracy in the United States, and a source of affordable protein in late 19th-century New York and Boston.

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My oyster journey began in my mid-fifties when I finally developed an appreciation for delicious, plump, raw oysters. Eventually, my newfound love of oysters led me to the Town of East Hampton oyster gardening program, which gave me the tools to raise my own oysters. Through the oyster gardening program, I met Barley Dunn, the Director of the East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery. He was aware of my background as an educator. He asked me to work with the South Fork Sea Farmers, a small group of people committed to educating the public and fostering community action to improve the aquatic ecosystems of East Hampton. As an administrator, former social studies, and biology teacher about to retire, this seemed like the perfect opportunity. I immediately began studying oysters and their place in our local waters.

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That tasty, tiny bivalve is a keystone species, providing a foundation for the aquatic ecosystem by keeping algae populations in check and providing structural habitats for diverse species. Mature oysters also filter fifty gallons of water daily-yes, fifty! When we hear "filter," we think of removing dirt or impurities, but oysters eat one-celled animals and plants called phytoplankton. These tiny organisms are always present, but balance is vital to all healthy ecosystems. The phytoplankton ingests nitrates and phosphates, converting them into proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. This is the base of the aquatic food chain. The system becomes unbalanced when excessive amounts of nitrates, phosphates from fertilizers, and fecal matter are added to the water. These excess nutrients in warm waters cause the phytoplankton population to dramatically and rapidly increase or "bloom." A harmful algae bloom (HAB) can destroy the ecosystem in shallow waters by depleting the oxygen supply and blacking out sunlight below the surface. This is where oysters come in. They consume the phytoplankton on a large enough scale to maintain the ideal balance in the ecosystem.

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Oysters, by nature, cluster on older shells, rocks, and underwater hard surfaces, forming reefs. These reefs provide a habitat for many aquatic plants, crustaceans, and juvenile finfish. Think of the coral reef that protected little Nemo; oyster reefs perform the same function in colder waters. Reefs can also absorb the energy of waves and currents, preventing the erosion of our shorelines. Once ubiquitous in New York's bays and estuaries, these reefs have been eliminated due to mismanagement and environmental deterioration. Cue oyster farming, which brings many of the reef benefits back to the ecosystem, including filtering and removing those excess nutrients. As reefs balance the system and bring more clarity to the water, the plant life begins to repopulate at the bottom of the bay. All said and done, reefs attract life, making the oyster a keystone species.

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Reef Restoration

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My new understanding of the opportunity and benefits of oyster habitat restoration led to discussions with Barley on building oyster reefs in our local waters. The Shellfish Hatchery staff and the South Fork Sea Farmers Board all favored the project. Keeping with the Sea Farmer's mission to educate the public, we contacted East Hampton High School for interns. Students in the science research program, particularly those interested in marine biology, were a great fit and eager to help.

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Building an oyster reef requires understanding the body of water in which it will be built, clarity on the desired function of the oyster reef in the ecosystem, and a pile of paperwork. Step one is the all important location, location, location! We are looking for an area with a hard bottom to keep the reef from getting silted over. It is not too close to the mouth of the harbor, so the larvae can "set" or stick to the hard surface where they will remain and are not swept out to open waters by the tide. Also, we would prefer a location in waters that are “uncertified" for shell fishing—at least part of the year where the natural filtering system is most needed. Finding these ideal locations usually requires several kayaking trips to test the harbor bottom for density in areas that meet the other criteria. Once we have a spot, I work with the interns to prepare the application and presentation for the East Hampton Town Trustees. This requires precise coordinates for the reef's location, a description of how the reef will be constructed, and illustrations of the reef's design, shape, and conditions of the area. The shape varies depending on circumstances. It can be serpentine to mitigate wave energy that causes erosion, squares to minimize obstruction for duck hunters or a trapezoid to circumvent boat traffic. The possible shapes are limitless, but all reefs must be less than fifty square yards, as the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) requires. The interns will present our proposal to the trustees at a public meeting that is televised locally. Preparing and delivering this is a great deal of pressure for a high school student, but it prepares them for life outside the confinements of traditional schooling. An experience that—in an ideal world—every student should experience in their field of interest. The Trustees always support our efforts and work to find solutions for any unanticipated hurdles, such as conflicting locations of duck blinds or adjacent homeowner approval.

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After local approval, we tackle the paperwork required by the state. This begins with completing the Joint Application Form, a four-page document that requires the same information presented to the Trustees, with additional illustrations and photos of the proposed location. When completed, this is sent to NYS DEC, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the NYS Department of State, and the NYS Office of General Services. Each agency eventually replies, requesting additional information relevant to their area of responsibility. (We are currently working on permits for our fourth reef, so we know what to expect.) The most time-consuming part of the process is conforming to the requested revisions. These can range from distance to the marsh edge, adjacent landowner approval, or a total reef relocation. The paper process, from local approval to DEC Permit, usually takes a year. Then, we get to do the fun part—reef creation.

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Building a Better Foundation

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From this point on, the process has become a symbiotic relationship between the South Fork Sea Farmers and the East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery. The interns and I spend a few weekends at the Montauk hatchery for each oyster reef, filling 700 mesh bags with three to four shovel fulls of clam and oyster shells each. These biodegradable mesh bags give temporary structure to the reef. Half of the bags will contain just shells and make up the bottom layer of the reef. The top layer will contain “spat-on-shell," which is oyster larvae attached to other oyster shells. This layer of growing oysters is essential to the reef-building process.

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This is where the staff at the Shellfish Hatchery use their expertise to manipulate nature to help restore the bays. Bags of shells are placed in large tanks inside the facility. Next, mature oysters are "tricked": into spawning in a separate tank by gradually raising the temperature of the water. Once the gametes (reproductive cells) have combined to form larvae, they are monitored until they are ready to "set." The larvae are then added to the tanks with the bags of shells, where they eventually set on them. After about four weeks, baby oysters are visible to the naked eye, growing on the shells. Now, we are ready to build.

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Building a reef is a two-day process, one layer each day. The tides dictate the time and month, with a low tide during the middle of the day being optimal. The mesh bags are loaded on trailers and transported to a predetermined site, where we put them on boats for the ride to their final destination. Once at the reef site, each bag is individually handed to someone in the water and placed in the approved pattern on the bottom. This is an exhausting process, which we've completed in both perfect summer weather and December snow. All said and done, coordinating the hatchery staff, the South Fork Sea Farmers, our interns, and additional volunteers into a team successfully building three reefs in Accabonac Harbor has been a gratifying experience.

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Creating these oyster reefs will continue to provide significant benefits, both ecologically and anthropologically. They are a fulcrum for aquatic habitat restoration that provides a home for numerous species, turning barren bay bottoms green and balancing the ecosystem. They are also an opportunity to build community across generations, passing along the responsibility of the stewardship of our planet. While long and frustrating, this process gives the individuals involved a tangible sense of productive accomplishment that can be difficult to find in today's world. There is also a sense of hope that comes from watching these high school students who show passion, intelligence, and a work ethic that we often do not associate with their generation. Contrary to much of the rhetoric you hear today, I believe our future is in good hands.

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Bob Tymann is a resident of East Hampton and a trustee with the South Fork Sea Farmers. A retired educator, he advocates systemic innovation in schools and environmental restoration through collective action.‍