Oysters, considered a “keystone species,” filter water and form reefs that buffer storm surges, and create a complex 3D structure that offers critical habitat for many important species.

The shoreline off of John Steinbeck Waterfront Park was selected for the pilot planting of a new spat-on-shell oyster reef. In August 2024, approximately 50,000 oyster spat on 13 cubic ft. (360L) of recycled shell were deployed by community volunteers + Back to the Bays staff at the new reef site. In 2025, an additional 80,000 oysters (ave. 6mm) set on 15 cubic ft. of shell (420 L) were added to bolster the reef.

These reefs, not intended for harvested, will continue to grow, improving water quality, restoring habitat, and enhancing the wild oyster population. 

Eelgrass plants prevent erosion, mitigate climate change by storing carbon, produce oxygen, and provide essential habitat for many economically important fish and shellfish.

The Sag Harbor Shoal eelgrass meadow site was initiated in 2016, but lacked consistent funding to enable annual plantings. This project’s fundraising campaign allowed for 1,750 eelgrass shoots (woven into 175 burlap discs) to be planted by our divers in November 2024.

Multiple species have already been observed utilizing our restored eelgrass meadow including adult bay scallops, flounder, and juvenile black sea bass!

Eelgrass is the preferred habitat of our native seahorse species, the Northern Lined Seahorse (Hippocampus erectus). Seahorses evolved prehensile tails to cling to eelgrass and other stable structures, allowing them to remain in their territory with their pair-bonded mate.

Not all sites are suitable for restoring eelgrass, so to help address seahorse habitat needs, we are working to deploy “seahorse hotels” to create stable, long-term habitat sites for seahorses to return to annually.

In summer 2025 we began scouting installation sites at the edges of the Sag Harbor Shoals restored eelgrass meadow, and community stewards gathered to help build new Seahorse Hotels!