Study Will Determine If Shellfish Dredging Affects Harbor

OYSTER BAY, NY —Senator Jim Gaughran announced Tuesday that he has secured $75,000 in state funding to study the effects of mechanical harvesting of shellfish on Oyster Bay Harbor. The announcement follows years of calls for an independent study into the effects of mechanical harvesting of shellfish on the harbor.

“Oyster Bay Harbor is home to some of the most pristine waters in the region and my administration has been doing more than ever before to further improve its water quality. Through massive seeding initiatives and a new hatchery, we have bolstered the shellfish population while supporting our local marine economy," Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. "This study is an important step in better understanding the impact of shellfish harvesting and I thank Senator Gaughran for securing the State funds needed to see it through.”

The study will be led by Stony Brook University Professor Roger Flood, an expert in oceanography, who will lead a team of scientists from Stony Brook that includes professors with expertise in oceanology and marine geology.

“Protecting and preserving our treasured bays on Long Island is essential to ensuring their vitality for generations to come," Senator Jim Gaughran said. "Following years of calls for an independent study to comprehensively examine the full impact of mechanical shellfish harvesting on Oyster Bay Harbor’s water quality, environmental sustainability, and pristine ecology, I am proud to fund this independent study and welcome the forthcoming results from experts Drs. Flood, Wilson, Bowman, and Bokuniewicz.”

Dr. Roger Flood will lead a team of scientists from Stony Brook University, an internationally acclaimed research university, including Dr. Robert Wilson, Dr. Malcolm Bowman, and Dr. Henry Bokuniewicz. The professors are experts in their fields of marine geology, sediment dynamics, oceanography, and coastal ocean and estuarine dynamics. They will study the environmental and water quality effects of mechanical harvesting of shellfish on Oyster Bay Harbor.

The team will collect data and measurements on sediments, shellfish, and other parameters to analyze the impact of mechanical harvesting of shellfish, a technique for shellfish harvesting. The results will be used to inform stakeholders of the best practices for shellfish harvesting in one of the region’s most vital and productive areas.

“Our study in Oyster Bay Harbor will provide new detailed information about how mechanical shellfishing techniques impact the seafloor and on how any resuspended sediments get redistributed within the harbor. While no one study will be able to provide all of the needed answers, we expect that our project will provide some important guidance for management decisions in Oyster Bay Harbor and in other similar settings," Roger Flood, Research and Emeritus Professor, said.

The one-year study will begin March 2020.

Additional comments from other community leaders:

• Heather Johnson, Executive Director of Friends of the Bay, said “Friends of the Bay are hopeful that the hydraulic dredging study will provide some insight on the subject, and it will be done with input from all stakeholders.”
• Rob Crafa, Coordinator for the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Protection Committee, said “The Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Protection Committee applauds Senator Gaughran's involvement in our local waterways as a community shellfish gardener last year and now securing the funds for this study. We look forward to working together to continue to protect and enhance one of the most ecologically and economically important embayments on Long Island Sound.”
• Bob DeNatale, Bayville Mayor, said “I applaud Senator Gaughran for securing New York State funding to study the various practices of harvesting oysters in Oyster Bay. It’s critical to establish the health of the Bay and its ability to furnish oysters for future generations.”
• Dan DeVita, Laurel Hollow Mayor, said “We must continue to enhance our efforts to improve water quality and restore the fragile balance of our ecosystem in Oyster Bay Harbor. Hopefully, this study will finally provide a definitive answer as to the alleged harmful effects of hydraulic dredging. Our community is grateful that Senator Gaughran has once again stepped up to the plate and gone to bat for clean water.”
• Charles Goulding, Oyster Bay Cove Mayor, said “Oyster Bay is an invaluable New York State resource for all the oysters and clams so many of us enjoy. It is important to verify that we are harvesting all of our shellfish in a sustainable way.”