Plant and Paddle: With our Friends at Rooted Hospitality Group

On June 4th, we had the pleasure of hosting our partners of Rooted Hospitality Group at our Tiana Bayside Facility. We paddled and kayaked in Tiana bay, and planted CCE-raised bay scallops all throughout our shellfish sanctuary. This work supports the wild bay scallop population, as planted scallops reproduce, spreading outside the sanctuary.

Scallops were brought over from our Southold hatchery by Harrison Tobi, scallop aquaculture specialist. Staff on the boat helped the paddlers fill their buckets full of scallops and take photos. Harrison was diving in the bay to check out our growing restored eelgrass, an important protective habitat for bay scallops, and we were all measuring the scallops before planting. 

CCE Marine’s Harrison Tobi, diving in Tiana Bay.

We planted 10 thousand overwintered bay scallops, with an average size of 45mm. Thanks to Rooted Hospitality volunteers for coming out to help with our shellfish restoration projects. Back to the Bays is appreciative of our partnerships, and throughout the summer, we will be hosting more plant and paddle stewardship events.

More information about our plant and paddle stewardship sessions: https://backtothebays.org/calendar/stewardship-session-paddle-plant