Suozzi Announces Completion of Project to Seed Six Million Oysters Using Funds He Obtained in 2022 Grant

Celebrates House Appropriations Committee Advancement of $750,000 in New Funding for 15 Million Additional Shellfish Across More Bays

Washington, D.C. - Between 2024 and 2026, six million oysters were planted across three North Shore Bays-2 million each in Manhasset Bay, Hempstead Harbor, and Oyster Bay, utilizing funds Suozzi obtained in the FY22 Community Project Funding grants. This project to restore shellfish populations and improve water quality in Long Island's North Shore bays was funded by the $300,000 in Community Project Funding that Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island, Queens) secured in the FY22 Appropriations process. Following the completion of phase I of this project, Rep. Suozzi is announcing that the House Appropriations Committee approved $750,000 in the House FY27 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill to seed an additional 15 million oysters, in the three original bays as well as Huntington Bay.

"Ever since I helped reopen parts of Hempstead Harbor to shellfishing when I was Mayor of Glen Cove in the 1990s, I have recognized that healthy bays are essential to Long Island's environment, economy, and quality of life," said Rep. Suozzi. "The first phase of this project successfully restored millions of oysters to our local waters, helping rebuild shellfish populations and improve water quality. I'm glad the Appropriations Committee included funding for Phase II of this project, and I will keep working to get this funding enacted so we can continue restoring the Long Island Sound and protecting one of Long Island's greatest natural resources."

Now that the funding has crossed the first hurdle and advanced out of the Appropriations Committee, it will proceed through the normal budgeting process through the House and then Senate. If enacted, the second phase of the project will seed 15 million oysters in the same three original bays-Manhasset Bay, Hempstead Harbor, and Oyster Bay-as well as add Huntington Bay. Both phases of the project are administered by the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee (HHPC), an intermunicipal partnership between several local governments surrounding Hempstead Harbor.

Congressman Suozzi met this week with Long Island Sound environmental leaders to discuss the importance of maintaining strong federal support for Long Island restoration programs, including shellfish seeding to improve water quality, improving wastewater treatment infrastructure to reduce nitrogen output, and forging Sound-wide partnerships to support these efforts.

Participating organizations included representatives from Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, Manhasset Bay Protection Committee, Save the Sound, Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District, Friends of the Bay, and others.

"Long Island Sound restoration efforts are working! Water quality is improving and shellfish restoration projects are part of this critically important effort. The shellfish reseeding effort for Hempstead Harbor is a terrific success story that illustrates how federal funding can make a meaningful difference for local communities. We are so thankful for Congressman Suozzi's continued commitment to Long Island Sound's restoration and protection," said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

"One of the major issues facing our bays is excess nitrogen from conventional septic systems and the overuse of fertilizers. This can cause harmful algal blooms, oxygen depletion, fish kills, and the decline of our wetland vegetation that protects us from stormwater damage during major storm events. Fortunately, nature has provided us with a solution: shellfish help restore balance to our waterways by filtering algae from the water. Thanks to the money Congressman Suozzi brought home for us, these six million oysters have the potential to filter 300 gallons of water a day, restore oyster populations, and create oyster reefs that provide habitats for other species," said Eric Swenson, Executive Director of Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee.

"The Manhasset Bay Protection Committee is thankful to Representative Suozzi for securing this funding so that we could plant two million oysters in Manhasset Bay. We also enjoy every opportunity to partner with our North Shore colleagues on any project and welcome the chance to collaborate again in the future," said Sarah Deonarine, Executive Director of the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee.

"The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor's Community Oyster Gardening Program is one of the most rewarding initiatives because it brings people together to make a real, lasting difference for Hempstead Harbor. Thanks to the support of Congressman Tom Suozzi's EPA Community Project Grant, we've been able to significantly expand our oyster restoration efforts and engage even more community members in protecting our local waters. Every oyster we grow and plant helps improve water quality, restore essential habitat, and build a healthier, more resilient harbor," said Michelle Lapinel McAllister, Programs Director for the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor.

"Oysters are the lifeblood of our bays. Friends of the Bay is grateful to Representative Suozzi for procuring federal funding to seed six million oysters in Oyster Bay, Hempstead Harbor and Manhasset Bay, and for his continued dedication to preserving our waterways for generations to come," said Christine Suter, Executive Director of Friends of the Bay.

Congressman Suozzi has long been a champion for protecting Long Island's environment, advocating for clean water, open space preservation, and investments that improve the health of the Long Island Sound, including delivering a 1000% increase in funding to improve the Long Island Sound since he came to Congress in 2017. His leadership has earned recognition from the New York League of Conservation Voters, which this year named him a Clean Water Champion for his decades-long commitment to safeguarding Long Island's water quality and securing federal support for critical environmental projects. He has also consistently earned the support of leading environmental organizations for his work to protect Long Island's natural resources.

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