Planting Complete

At the end of each season, the spat-on-shell oysters get released or “planted” from their cages into a dedicated conservation management area in Hempstead Harbor where they continue to grow, filter water, and provide habitat to a variety of other marine species.

The 2023 release took place over the course of two days in late September. Twenty-eight cages in total were collected from the four participating sites, cleaned, and brought to the conservation management area by boat.

CSHH staff and volunteers cleaning oyster cages (9/17/23)

Oysters prepared to be taken to the conservation management area (9/17/23)

The important work of the volunteers throughout the summer in raising the spat on shell culminated in the oysters being large enough for release. On the final day, their average length was around 3.2 cm, or 1.25 inches. This means that most of the oysters had tripled in size since their delivery on July 21.

Spat-on-shell oysters (9/17/23)