Oyster Reefs

Crassostrea virginica

Support Oyster Reef Restoration by Donating to our Oyster Fund

3% Cover the Fee

Contributions at all levels will be directed toward our Oyster + Oyster Reef restoration, research, and education initiatives. Back to the Bays is an Initiative of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, a registered 501(c)(3). Our EIN is 11-6081424 and contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

NEW! Adopt an Oyster Reef

Help us re-establish oyster reef habitats!

  • $50 ~ Helps collects 300 gal. of recycled shell

  • $100 ~ Supports the planting of 1 cubic ft. of spat-on-shell oysters

We set spat (baby oysters) on recycled shell to build 3D oyster reefs that provide habitat structure for local species, while improving water quality. Did you know that 1 adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons per day?
Learn more about Species Adoptions

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Adopt an Oyster T
$100.00

It takes ~ $10,000 to build an entire oyster reef habitat with spat-on-shell aquaculture. And every bit counts!

Your $100 contribution supports the production of 1 cubic ft. of spat-on-shell oysters to be deployed on a restored oyster reef.

As a thank you gift, please enjoy this organic cotton T-shirt, depicting our local species of Oyster - featuring artwork from our new Long Island Marine + Coastal Field Guide by CCE Marine resident artist, Carolyn Munaco.

T-shirts are printed on demand, and will be automatically shipped for free, to the address provided. If you would like 100% of your donation to support Back to the Bays' oyster restoration efforts, you can opt out of the gift by making a tax-deductible contribution to our Oyster Reef Fund at backtothebays.org/oyster-reefs.

Adopt an Oyster Mug Adopt an Oyster Mug
Quick View
Adopt an Oyster Mug
$50.00

It takes ~ $10,000 to build an entire oyster reef habitat with spat-on-shell aquaculture. And every bit counts!

Your $50 contribution helps collects about 300 gallons of recycled shell used to set baby oysters on.

As a thank you gift, please enjoy this mug, depicting our local species of Oyster - featuring artwork from our new Long Island Marine + Coastal Field Guide by CCE Marine resident artist, Carolyn Munaco.

Mugs are printed on demand, and will be automatically shipped for free, to the address provided. If you would like 100% of your donation to support Back to the Bays' oyster restoration efforts, you can opt out of the gift by making a tax-deductible contribution to our Oyster Reef Fund at backtothebays.org/oyster-reefs.

Oyster Blogs

Featured
Bivalve Blog: Welcoming the Spring (Hatchery) Season
Bivalve Blog: Welcoming the Spring (Hatchery) Season
SAG HARBOR SHELLFISH: THAT’S A WRAP FOR 2025!
SAG HARBOR SHELLFISH: THAT’S A WRAP FOR 2025!
Oyster Reef Deployment at Tiana Bayside Facility
Oyster Reef Deployment at Tiana Bayside Facility
Quogue Junior Ambassadors POV
Quogue Junior Ambassadors POV

Learn about what our Back to the Bays Quogue Jr. Ambassadors have been up to this summer. Lead Ambassadors, Teagan and Oggie, share their experience.

Quogue Oyster Reef Deployment
Quogue Oyster Reef Deployment

Our Quogue Junior Ambassadors came out to help us deploy the first round of summer 2025 spat-on-shell oysters in our Quogue Oyster Reef (established summer 2024).

Quogue Oyster Reef Monitoring
Quogue Oyster Reef Monitoring

Kim and Kate head out to monitor our Quogue Oyster Reef, collect scientific data, and clean the spat-on-shell oysters growing in our restoration raft. It may have been a rainy day for our dedicated staff, but not for the oysters. The reef is absolutely thriving!

Building On Our Sag Harbor Oyster Reef
Building On Our Sag Harbor Oyster Reef

Checking on last year’s Sag Harbor oyster reef planting off Steinbeck Park, and bolstering the reef with another 100K spat-on-shell oysters!

Oyster Restoration Raft Installed at Quogue Stewardship Site
Oyster Restoration Raft Installed at Quogue Stewardship Site

Installing Oyster Restoration Raft in the waters of our Quogue Stewardship Site. Spat-on-shell oysters will improve water quality as they filter feed and grow, and eventually be planted in Quogue Village waters to bolster our newly restored oyster reef!

Long Island Marine and Coastal Field Guide
Long Island Marine and Coastal Field Guide
Shellfish 101
Shellfish 101

Shellfish 101 - first Stewardship Session of the season

New Menantic Creek Restoration Site on Shelter Island
New Menantic Creek Restoration Site on Shelter Island
Back to the Bays Midsummer Update 
Back to the Bays Midsummer Update 

Our Back to the Bays Team has been busy to say the least this summer! The majority of our fieldwork, and plant and animal care in our shellfish and coastal plant nurseries takes place during these warm weather months. And it takes a lot of hard work to keep everything thriving and growing.

Species Spotlight: Fluke
Species Spotlight: Fluke
Species Spotlight: Alewife
Species Spotlight: Alewife
Species Spotlight: Hard Clam
Species Spotlight: Hard Clam
Species Spotlight: Eastern Oyster
Species Spotlight: Eastern Oyster
Restorative Oysters Event Was a Hit!
Restorative Oysters Event Was a Hit!

Oyster News

Featured
Long Island Marine and Coastal Field Guide: A Trusty Companion on Land and at Sea- The Southampton Press
Long Island Marine and Coastal Field Guide: A Trusty Companion on Land and at Sea- The Southampton Press

The Long Island Marine and Coastal Field Guide was created by Back to the Bays staff Carolyn Munaco and Hazel Wodehouse. Carolyn painted over 250 species for the field guide and Hazel classified each organism and wrote all of the information about each species, as well as detailed descriptions of Long Island's diverse marine habitats.

Full Article

Oyster shell collection benefits land and sea: Shells become building blocks for new habitats - Shelter Island Reporter
Oyster shell collection benefits land and sea: Shells become building blocks for new habitats - Shelter Island Reporter

Shelter Island has been out front on restoring habitat for oysters. In April 2023, representatives of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program counted a victory when the Town Board approved a $200,000 allocation from Water Quality Improvement money (WQI) to boost shellfish habitat restoration.

From the start, Islander and aquaculture coordinator for Cornell Kate Rossi-Snook has been the Island’s voice calling for restoration of the habitats that contribute to improved water quality.

Community, conservationists establish small oyster reef in Sag Harbor - Newsday
Community, conservationists establish small oyster reef in Sag Harbor - Newsday

Kate-Rossi Snook led a large gathering of volunteers and supports in the deployment of our Sag Harbor Oyster Reef!

Full Article

Toward a New Oyster Reef in Sag Harbor - The East Hampton Star
Toward a New Oyster Reef in Sag Harbor - The East Hampton Star

“We have to be proactive, we have to remain proactive,” said Sag Harbor Village Mayor Thomas Gardella at an Aug. 21 event on the beach near John Steinbeck Waterfront Park, hosted by the nonprofit Back to the Bays.

Full Article

Greenport Shellabration returns for the 11th year - Northforker
Greenport Shellabration returns for the 11th year - Northforker

Greenport Shellabration is back for its 11th year on Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4 from Noon to 4 p.m. This year, the event is back to the full 1,500 “Shellabrant” capacity.

Full Article

Oysters: The Tums of Lake Montauk - The East Hampton Star
Oysters: The Tums of Lake Montauk - The East Hampton Star

East Hampton Town has given its blessing to a second spat-on-shell oyster reef restoration project in Lake Montauk, proposed by the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Back to the Bays program.

Full Article

Back to the Bays initiative continues to make a difference in local waters - Northforker
Back to the Bays initiative continues to make a difference in local waters - Northforker

If you’ve ordered the Peconic Gold Oysters Rockefeller from Windamere at Strong’s Marine in Mattituck, you’ve contributed to a good cause with perhaps not even realizing.

Full Article