Oyster Monitoring
Oysters help keep water clean and oyster reefs help protect the coastline. They are nature’s water filters; each one is able to clean up to 50 gallons of water a day.
New York City used to be THE place to eat oysters! When the Dutch first arrived in Manhattan during the 17th century, the island was covered in oyster beds. But as New York grew as a city, so did the consumption of this popular mollusk. The oyster is now functionally extinct in the NY-NJ Harbor from rampant development, over-harvesting and pollution.
To date, our Oyster Monitoring has
EcoVolunteers to our Bronx River oyster reef
Volunteering in New York
Soundview Park Oyster Reef
NY/NJ Baykeeper manages a 1-acre oyster reef at Soundview Park in the Bronx River. The reef provides substrate for new oysters to attach to, increases habitat in the area, and encourages natural recruitment for a self-sustaining reef. The “Scientific Reef” portion provides space for scientific experiments. The “Community Reef” is a small sub-plot within the large reef, providing a unique opportunity for eco-volunteerism in the NYC metro area. Volunteers are able to get in the water and observe oyster biology and ecology up close, monitoring survivorship, growth, and biodiversity. To sign up to volunteer, click here.