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North Hempstead Makes a Splash


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 22, 2022
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                                   Brian Devine | (516) 869-2475

North Hempstead Makes a Splash
One million oysters added to Manhasset Bay 
 

North Hempstead, NY – A million new oysters will be calling Manhasset Bay home. North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, Council Member Mariann Dalimonte and the rest of the Town Board, along with officials from the DEC and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County were proud to welcome the new spat-on-shell oysters to their residence in Manhasset Bay on August 12. This is part of a pilot program which aims at assisting with shellfish restoration by establishing oyster beds.

The plans to embark on this project first began in January 2020, when Council Member Dalimonte started exploring the idea of reintroducing oysters into the bay as a way of helping the environment. At the April 28, 2022 Board Meeting, Council Member Dalimonte offered the resolution which was unanimously approved.

“The addition of these baby oysters to Manhasset Bay will help improve water quality and clarity over time, as once they are mature, oysters can potentially filter up to 50 gallons of water a day through their feeding process,” Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said. “Protecting our natural assets is a top priority for the Town, and I am proud that we are making this investment in the health of Manhasset Bay. If this pilot program is successful, this event will hopefully become an annual tradition, as we continue to seed the harbor, adding even more oysters that will foster so many environmental benefits in our waters by removing bacteria.”

“A significant priority for me as an elected official has been the protection and preservation of our local environment,” said Council Member Dalimonte. “It has been great to partner with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County for nearly three years on this project. Having clean waterways is essential to help reestablish habitats for marine life, improving water quality and so much more. Manhasset Bay is a local treasure and acts as a vital ecosystem for marine flora and fauna. What a great way to use natural resources to further help protect our water. I am looking forward to working with Cornell on new environmental initiatives next Spring.”

“One of the most significant environmental threats facing Long Island is the pollution facing our local waterways, especially in the bays on the Long Island Sound. I want to applaud Council Member Mariann Dalimonte for this initiative which is going to help restore the water quality of the bay, which is so vital to our community. I look forward to working with her to try and expand this program in the future,” said New York State Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti.









 

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