Hudson River Oysters: Past, Present, & Future

Before the 20th century, when people thought of New York, they thought of oysters. This is what New York was to the world—a great oceangoing port where people ate succulent local oysters from their harbor. Visitors looked forward to trying them. New Yorkers ate them constantly. They also sold them by the millions.

It took less than 100 years for New Yorkers to wipe out the oyster population in NY Harbor. Now, Billion Oyster Project is rebuilding this important natural resource. Oyster reefs provide habitat for hundreds of other marine species, and can protect our city from storm damage — softening the blow of large waves, reducing flooding, and preventing erosion along the shorelines.

Billion Oyster Project is a New York City-based nonprofit organization with the goal of engaging one million people in the effort to restore one billion oysters to New York Harbor by 2035. Because oysters are filter feeders, they serve as a natural water filter, with a number of beneficial effects for the ecosystem.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Kevin Horbatiuk is the Oyster Research Station Ambassador with Billion Oyster Project, a volunteer for City Island Oyster Reef, and former Commodore at the Yonkers Paddling & Rowing Club. On Saturday mornings from May through September, Kevin travels to City Island to measure the oysters’ growth, determine how many of them are growing on each craggy shell pulled from Long Island Sound. Measuring and counting the oysters is painstaking work that demands focus and dedication.

There will be a Q&A after the program.

• RSVP is required for admission to the Lecture Series
• Limited guest capacity
• FREE to attend
• There will NOT be a potluck supper at this event