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Bay Scallop Restoration Project
Coming to East Hampton
Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, East Hampton Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson, and Suffolk Legislator Jay Schneiderman held a news conference last Thursday to support funding a three-year Bay Scallop seeding initiative.
The proposal would extend the current three-year joint program between Suffolk and East Hampton that already has stocked approximately 600,000 reproductively viable one-year-old scallops in spawner sanctuaries.
“This latest restoration project will bring the total number of shellfish we have seeded in Suffolk County waterways to more than 8 million since 2005,” said Mr. Levy. “Developing new populations of scallops and hard clams in the Peconic and Great South Bay will have a lasting impact on the health of our waterways.”
The resolution will be introduced August 3 and could be eligible for a vote by the Suffolk Legislature as early as August 17. The three-year plan is a multi-level initiative involving the county, town, state and federal estuary programs.
It calls for raising the scallops in East Hampton’s shellfish hatchery in Montauk, with later field growth in the Three Mile and Napeague Harbor spawner sanctuaries before final deployment into the town's waterways. The program will monitor survival and reproductive rates.
“We are appreciative of the county’s support of our efforts to restore the natural scallop population in our local bays; not only through this seeding project, but also their continued assistance in the management and implementation of local efforts for water quality improvements throughout the county,” said East Hampton Supervisor Bill Wilkinson.
The Peconic Estuary shellfish restoration program is one of several water quality improvement initiatives that have been launched since Mr. Levy took office in 2004. They include the administration’s hard clams seeding effort in the Great South Bay and the establishment of an aquaculture leasing program to lease underwater land in the Peconic and Gardiners bays to oyster growers.
Under the Levy administration, the county has invested nearly $30 million in water quality improvement projects, including more than $6 million in aquatic habitat restoration efforts, all of which are showing signs of success.
“Decades ago, shellfishing was not just a way to make a living, it was a way of life for many Long Islanders,” Mr. Levy noted. “If we fast forward ten years from now, I am hopeful that we will once again see large numbers of scallops, clams and oysters flourishing in Suffolk County waters.”
“We are dedicated to developing new populations of scallops and hard clams in the Peconic and Great South Bays," said Mr. Levy. which will have a lasting impact on the quality of life and the health of our waterways.”
The proposed program will raise scallops in the Town's shellfish hatchery in Montauk, followed by field growth in the Three Mile and Napeague Harbor spawner sanctuaries before final deployment into waterways of East Hampton. The program will monitor survival and reproductive rates.
“We are appreciative of the county’s support of our efforts to restore the natural scallop population in our local bays; not only through this seeding project, but also their continued assistance in the management and implementation of local efforts for water quality improvements throughout the county,” said Supervisor Wilkinson.
The Peconic Estuary shellfish restoration program is one of several water quality improvement initiatives that have been launched since Mr. Levy took office in 2004. Others include the hard clams seeding effort in the Great South Bay and the aquaculture leasing program to lease underwater land in the Peconic and Gardiners bays to oyster growers.
The county has invested a total of nearly $30 million in water quality improvement projects, including more than $6 million in aquatic habitat restoration efforts, all of which are showing signs of success.
“Decades ago, shellfishing was not just a way to make a living, it was a way of life for many Long Islanders,” Mr. Levy noted. “If we fast forward ten years from now, I am hopeful that we will once again see large numbers of scallops, clams and oysters flourishing in Suffolk County waters.”
Bay Scallop Restoration Project
Coming to East Hampton
Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, East Hampton Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson, and Suffolk Legislator Jay Schneiderman held a news conference last Thursday to support funding a three-year Bay Scallop seeding initiative.
The proposal would extend the current three-year joint program between Suffolk and East Hampton that already has stocked approximately 600,000 reproductively viable one-year-old scallops in spawner sanctuaries.
“This latest restoration project will bring the total number of shellfish we have seeded in Suffolk County waterways to more than 8 million since 2005,” said Mr. Levy. “Developing new populations of scallops and hard clams in the Peconic and Great South Bay will have a lasting impact on the health of our waterways.”
The resolution will be introduced August 3 and could be eligible for a vote by the Suffolk Legislature as early as August 17. The three-year plan is a multi-level initiative involving the county, town, state and federal estuary programs.
It calls for raising the scallops in East Hampton’s shellfish hatchery in Montauk, with later field growth in the Three Mile and Napeague Harbor spawner sanctuaries before final deployment into the town's waterways. The program will monitor survival and reproductive rates.
“We are appreciative of the county’s support of our efforts to restore the natural scallop population in our local bays; not only through this seeding project, but also their continued assistance in the management and implementation of local efforts for water quality improvements throughout the county,” said East Hampton Supervisor Bill Wilkinson.
The Peconic Estuary shellfish restoration program is one of several water quality improvement initiatives that have been launched since Mr. Levy took office in 2004. They include the administration’s hard clams seeding effort in the Great South Bay and the establishment of an aquaculture leasing program to lease underwater land in the Peconic and Gardiners bays to oyster growers.
Under the Levy administration, the county has invested nearly $30 million in water quality improvement projects, including more than $6 million in aquatic habitat restoration efforts, all of which are showing signs of success.
“Decades ago, shellfishing was not just a way to make a living, it was a way of life for many Long Islanders,” Mr. Levy noted. “If we fast forward ten years from now, I am hopeful that we will once again see large numbers of scallops, clams and oysters flourishing in Suffolk County waters.”
“We are dedicated to developing new populations of scallops and hard clams in the Peconic and Great South Bays," said Mr. Levy. which will have a lasting impact on the quality of life and the health of our waterways.”
The proposed program will raise scallops in the Town's shellfish hatchery in Montauk, followed by field growth in the Three Mile and Napeague Harbor spawner sanctuaries before final deployment into waterways of East Hampton. The program will monitor survival and reproductive rates.
“We are appreciative of the county’s support of our efforts to restore the natural scallop population in our local bays; not only through this seeding project, but also their continued assistance in the management and implementation of local efforts for water quality improvements throughout the county,” said Supervisor Wilkinson.
The Peconic Estuary shellfish restoration program is one of several water quality improvement initiatives that have been launched since Mr. Levy took office in 2004. Others include the hard clams seeding effort in the Great South Bay and the aquaculture leasing program to lease underwater land in the Peconic and Gardiners bays to oyster growers.
The county has invested a total of nearly $30 million in water quality improvement projects, including more than $6 million in aquatic habitat restoration efforts, all of which are showing signs of success.
“Decades ago, shellfishing was not just a way to make a living, it was a way of life for many Long Islanders,” Mr. Levy noted. “If we fast forward ten years from now, I am hopeful that we will once again see large numbers of scallops, clams and oysters flourishing in Suffolk County waters.”
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