Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino (center), Town Councilwoman Laura Maier (fourth from right), Councilwoman Vicki Walsh (fourth from left), and Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato (third from right) join with the Town’s environmental team to show some of the 3300 pounds of shells collected at the Oyster Festival, to be recycled back into the waterways to improve water quality and help with the growth of new shellfish.
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilwoman Laura Maier, Councilwoman Vicki Walsh, and Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato joined with the Town’s environmental team to collect the thousands of oyster shells that were collected during the weekend of the Oyster Festival, which will be recycled through the Town’s Shell Recycling Program. The shells, amounting to roughly 3300 pounds, are transported by Town aquaculturists to a curing facility, where they will remain for several months prior to being strategically returned to the harbor to assist in the growth of new shellfish.
“You can’t have the Oyster Festival without oysters, and thousands of residents enjoyed this delicacy during the weekend’s festivities,” said Supervisor Saladino. “Thanks to the Town’s Shell Recycling Program, we can make sure the shells will not go to waste and be recycled back into our waters.”
The Supervisor explained that shells provide an excellent source of habitat for young shellfish to grow and mature, offering protection from weather conditions and predators.
“It’s amazing what can happen if we just let Mother Nature take its course – with just a little help from us,” Supervisor Saladino said. “These shells offer great protection from weather conditions, and also help defend growing shellfish from predators. They are essential to our waterways and local marine environment, as they filter water through their feeding mechanisms.”
Any restaurant owner interested in partnering with the Town on the Shell Recycling Program can visit the Town’s website for more information at www.oysterbaytown.com/shellrecycling.
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