Bringing Back New York’s Oysters

Friday, November 20, 2015, 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Room 714 Hunter West Building

The CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities is pleased to present “Bringing Back New York’s Oysters”, a presentation by Pete Malinowski, Director of the Billion Oyster Project, to discuss the Project’s efforts to rebuild the oyster reefs that once populated New York Harbor.

“Oysters were once the dominant habitat type in New York Harbor. When Europeans first arrived, over 200,000 acres of reef provided food and habitat to hundreds of species of fish and invertebrates. Without its reef, the bottom of New York Harbor is flat with nowhere to hide and nothing to eat. At the Billion Oyster Project we are working to restore oysters to the Harbor, and with them the ecosystem services they provide. By working with public school students, we are working to connect a generation of New Yorkers with the ecosystem and to empower them with the knowledge that New York Harbor can be a healthier and more bountiful resource for all of us.“

Damian Griffin, an educator at MS 118 in the Bronx and citizen scientist, will describe how the Bronx River oyster reef was started in 2006 by a partnership with the NYC Parks Department and the New York Harbor School. It is now the largest, most successful reef in NY Harbor to date.  Says Griffin, “It is incredible that such an amazing ecosystem exists right below the surface; out of sight but not out of reach.”

This presentation is produced in partnership with the Billion Oyster Project, NYC H2O, a New York City based environmental education group, and the National Park Service.

Learn more about NYC H2O

Learn more about the Billion Oyster Project

Coverage of the launch of the Billion Oyster Project from the New York Environment Report

This event is free and open to the public, but we urge you to RSVP

Photo courtesy of the New York Environment Report