Shelter Island Oyster Restoration - Summer 2026 Update
Dedicated Back to the Bays Stewards helping to assemble shell bags for restoring spat-on-shell oyster reefs on Shelter Island ~ Shell Recycling partner location, Sylvester Manor Education Farm
Back to the Bays has been busy as usual this summer, working to restore oyster reefs on Shelter Island, while engaging local citizens every step of the way.
We kicked off the summer on June 29th with a public Stewardship Session to assemble shell bags at our Sylvester Manor Shell Recycling Site. Through our Shell Recycling Program, discarded oyster shells are collected from local restaurants and raw bars to be used for new oyster reefs. Shells must be cured in the sun for 6-12 months before they can be used to building new oyster reefs in our bays. Our Back to the Bays volunteer Stewards helped fill mesh bags with this cured shell, to be placed in remote setting tanks with baby oysters (SPAT) that will set on the old shells and grow into 3D structures that form new oyster reefs. Each adult oyster filters 50 gallons of water in one day improving the overall health of the estuary.
GOT SPAT?
Flash forward just a couple of weeks and we’ve got babies! Take a look at the progress at our Shelter Island Dickerson Creek remote setting tank.
These oysters will continue to grow, cementing together into complex structures, that provide small nooks and hiding spaces for juvenile fish and small marine invertebrates, all while continuing to filter bay water. This spat-on-shell (SOS) is destined for our Menantic Creek oyster reef restoration later this summer!
Here, you can see tiny baby oysters that have settled on these larger cured shells to create the ‘spat’ in spat-on-shell. Just a few are indicated by arrows. Can you spot even more?
Dickerson Creek remote setting tank on Shelter Island
Mesh bags with growing spat-on-shell oysters, receiving flow through natural bay water for a constant supply of marine algae to feed on
Education + Outreach
Education is one of the pillars of Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program.
On July 16th, Back to the Bays Aquaculture Coordinator, Kate Rossi-Snook, gave a Marsh + Oyster Reef Habitat talk at Sylvester Manor’s STEM camp on Shelter Island. @sylvestermanorshelterisland ‘s STEM Summer camp
Kate Rossi-Snook (Aquaculture Coordinator) with Sylvester Manor’s STEM campers, using our waterproof Long Island Marine + Coastal Field Guide.
Campers learned the benefits of oysters to our marine environment and got to hold and examine clusters of live spat-on-shell oysters that will be planted at one of our restorative oyster reefs across the East End!
Love to paddle? Let’s build a reef!
Those tiny spat-on-shell oysters are almost ready to be planted, adding to our Menantic Creek restored oyster reef. Learn more about our Menantic Creek Restoration Site HERE.
And if you have a paddle board or kayak and are a strong swimmer, we could use your help. Come join us at our Menantic Creek Keepers Oyster Reef Paddle + Plant on August 21st, 2026 at 3PM - event is now open to the general public!
Be sure to enroll as a Back to the Bays Steward first, to support this work and gain prior access to more special events.
Enroll as a Back to the Bays Steward and join this growing, community-based initiative.
Attend our Stewardship Sessions, where you can help CCE staff restore and protect local shellfish, eelgrass, coastal plants, seahorses, and horseshoe crabs. Your contribution ensures the continuation and expansion of this important work!
Steward Levels:
Join as an Individual ($25), Family ($50), or Supporting Steward ($100).
Benefits of joining our Stewardship Program:
Stewardship Package mailed to you, including Official Back to the Bays Decals, featuring our 2026 artist, and CCE’s own Aquaculture Manager, Mike Patricio!
Digital subscription to monthly Back to the Bays newsletter
Opportunities throughout the year to participate in Stewardship Sessions, alongside CCE Marine’s habitat and shellfish restoration experts
10% Discount on our Marketplace (Code will arrive in confirmation email)
Additional discounted events, and special Steward-only educational and hands-on opportunities
Option to receive email updates and event announcements for a particular Stewardship Site(s). (select 1 or more in enrollment form)
The knowledge that you are actively enhancing the health of our local marine environments!