2025 Shellfish Restoration Goals
In early 2025, the FoBB Board of Directors approved the 2025 Habitat Restoration Plan & Budget, which included a goal to plant up to 1.5 million additional shellfish into Bellport Bay & the Great South Bay. Through multiple permitted and licensed initiatives, the FoBB Team succeeded at planting 1,242,000 shellfish onto the Bay bottom, bringing FoBB's grand total of shellfish planted (since our 2015 inception) to 6,038,718.
2025 Shellfish Planting Summary
FLUPSY Initiative (Shellfish nursery) - 75,000 Brookhaven Town Oyster Initiative - 75,000 Spat-On-Shell Initiative (CCESC* contract) - 20,000 Single Oysters Initiative (CCESC) - 25,000 Brookhaven Town Clam Initiative - 40,000 2025 Spat-On-Shell Initiative (200 cu ft) - 1,000,000 Whale House Point Farm Oyster Donation- 7,000 2025 Planting Total: 1,242,000 Grand Total (to date, 2015 - 2025): 6,038,718 *CCESC = Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County
2025 Reef "A" Initiative
In 2024, the FoBB team began construction of Bellport Bay's first three-dimensional oyster reef. The permit application process, a 2.5 year pursuit, was completed by Katia Read (Co-Founder & Chair) and Gregg Rivara (of CCESC). Upon completing the permitting process, FoBB obtained a license to operate from the US Army Corps of Engineers, the NYSDOS, the NYSDEC, and the Town of Brookhaven. Construction of the reef began in September 2024, in collaboration with volunteers from Seatuck's Half Shells for Habitat program. Curated shell recycled from local restaurants was also donated by Seatuck, and placed into biodegradable mesh bags, secured around the reef perimeter by Gregg Rivara & the FoBB team.
During the 2025 season, FoBB (in collaboration with CCESC & Seatuck) laid down approximately 1,500 lbs of recycled shell to create the reef foundation. This foundation, upon which Spat-on-Shell ("SOS") oysters are added, prevents the burial of the bottom oysters from those layered above them. Throughout Summer 2025, CCESC & the FoBB team delivered and deployed 200 cubic feet of SOS oysters (approximately 1,000,000 shellfish) into the Bay. 500,000 oysters were planted into the reef, and the additional 500,000 were planted into the Protected Shellfish Sanctuary (owned by the Town of Brookhaven & managed by FoBB).
Above: Team members from Seatuck Enviromental, CCESC and FoBB gathering before the deployment of recycled shell onto the reef site.
FoBB Co-Founder, Katia Read (left) and CCESC team members enjoying the ride out to “Reef A” before the hard work begins.
Image taken from shore of SOS deployment onto reef.
FoBB Co-Founder, Thomas Schultz, in the water helping to move trays of SOS from the boat to reef site.
FoBB and CCESC team members adding SOS to reef site.
Spawn Collection Initiative
In 2025, FoBB deployed spawn collection traps for the third year in a row, allowing for the determination of oyster spawn presence in the water column. A single adult oyster can create 10 million oyster larvae per year, and collection traps enable FoBB to study the effectiveness of this initiative.
This initiative is led by CCESC, and over the last three years we have been successful at capturing oyster spawn in multiple traps. As more oysters are introduced into the Bay, we expect to see a corresponding increase in the frequency of oyster spawn collected in our traps.
SCUBA Certification
In 2025, two FoBB team members completed their SCUBA certification course. Upon obtaining their certification, there are now three FoBB team members with SCUBA certification. This will enable for more detailed data collection, as they can use their skills to dive into oyster colonies and take image and video for observation.
Equipment Storage
Over the last 5 years, FoBB has been renting multiple outdoor storage sites at the Beaverdam Boat Basin in Brookhaven Hamlet for our equipment, including bottom cages, mesh bags, lines and related tackle and gear. In September of 2025, FoBB was informed that the property owners no longer wanted oyster farming equipment stored at their site. After an exhausting search for an alternative location, and with the pivotal help of Craig Strong of the Brookhaven Town EPA, FoBB successfully lobbied the Town Board to provide FoBB with an outdoor storage space in one of their Highway Department yards located in Mastic, NY. This site is spacious and secure.
In early Novemember, FoBB rented a 26 foot U-Haul & made multiple trips to relocate the gear and equipment. To FoBB's luck, the Town is not charging an annual fee, enabling $2,800 in annual savings (or $28,000 over 10 years). However, moving equipment and gear to and from the new location is more timely and logistically complicated, and will require renting a U-Haul multiple times per year, costing around $150 per rental. FoBB signed the required and typical formal agreement with the Town, holding them harmless if our team is injured on their property.
Additional Storage Updates
Over the last nine years, FoBB has towed and stored the FLUPSY for the winter from its summer location at the Fireplace Marina on Beaverdam Creek, to the Beaverdam Boat Basin. There, the FLUPSY was hauled out and the bottom scraped and cleaned, then set on blocks on land for the winter. This annual service costs FoBB approximately $900 per season, plus the time and labor to move the FLUPSY back and forth. This year, FoBB will leave the FLUPSY in place at the marina for the winter, saving on annual storage and labor costs. This may be possible at least every other year.
In addition to the FLUPSY being stored in the water over the winter, FoBB has a small plastic dock locker secured to the dock next to our FUPSY (see the blue circle on image below), which holds oyster measuring tools, waders and other gear needed for FLUPSY maintenance. It would be ideal to install a wood locker in this regard, thus eliminating the plastic “eye sore” that does not fit in with the natural setting.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCESC) 2025 Report
As seen in local press:
2026 Water Operations Targets
FLUPSY (Shellfish Nursery) Initiative - 100,000 (plus 25k) Brookhaven Town Oyster Initiative - 75,000 Spat on Shell Initiative - As part of our CCESC contract 20,000 Single Oysters Initiative - Purchased from CCESC 25,000 Brookhaven Town Clam Initiative - 40,000 2025 Spat-on-Shell ("SOS") Initiative - 200 cubic feet. 1,000,000 Total to be planted in 2026 - 1,260,000 FoBB has asked the Town if they can increase the number of oysters and clams that they donate to us.
Additional Initiatives:
1. Choose locations to build four additional 3-dimensional oyster reefs. This initiative requires permitting, and we will need to hire CCESC to perform core sampling at proposed sites as part of the application process. The goal is to submit applications or notifications to the governing agencies by June 1, 2026, including the US Army Corps of Engineers, the NYSDEC, the NYSDOS, the Town of Brookhaven, and the Village of Bellport. 2. Continue the collaboration with Save the Great South Bay regarding water quality testing. This initiative is fully funded via a grant from SGSB. 3. Research the idea growing kelp in the Protected Shellfish Sanctuary. Kelp is an environmental powerhouse and is effective at plucking greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. It also creates safe habitat for other forms of sea life. FoBB already reached out to Sue Wicks and Mike Kokell, who work with kelp. 4. Explore and price out setting up a video camera “Reef Cam” on “Reef A”. This system requires a power source and a dedicated internet line from land. CCESC is already drafting a cost analysis. This system will allow for continuous monitoring of the reef, and could be made available to the public on our website and on social media. 5. Certify 2 additional SCUBA divers. 6. Katia is continuing to talk with Econcrete companies and looking into 3-D “living sea tiles” to install on bulkheads as habitat restoration and support for native oysters, seaweed, and marine species. Econcrete also creates substrate for reefs and bay bottom (see: www.econcretetech.com). 7. Continue our collaboration with oyster farmers and the planting of their over-market-sized oysters. 8. Plan for public seminar on restoration initiatives, including speakers on kelp, Spat-on-Shell ("SOS"), clam restoration, and pollution mitigation, among others.
*End of the 2025 Shellfish Restoration Report*
2025 Educational Report
Written by FoBB's Educational Director Maria Slavnova
Prepared by Maria Slavnova, FoBB Education Director, October 2025
Friends of Bellport Bay (FoBB) is dedicated to enhancing the water quality & ecosystem of Bellport Bay & the Great South Bay through shellfish restoration. These efforts increase biodiversity, create habitat, and protect the shoreline as a sustainable solution to the threat of pollution. Since our inception in 2015, we have successfully planted over 6 million shellfish in the Bay. FoBB made significant progress toward our broader goals during the 2025 season. This summary includes details about FoBB’s educational activities outside of water operations, including seminars, press, collaborations, and summer programs.
April
April 1st + 2nd: Longwood Middle School Presentations - On April 4th and 5th, FoBB educators Maria & PJ gave a series of presentations at Longwood Middle School in Middle Island, NY. Along with learning about oysters & the important role they play in Long Island‘s bays & estuaries, students also had an up-close look at shellfish & other marine organisms that call oyster reefs home. In total, we reached over 500 middle school students.
April 19th: Longwood Public Library “Earth Day Every Day” Tabling Event - On April 19th, FoBB educators Maria & PJ tabled at the Longwood Public Library in Middle Island for their annual “Earth Day Every Day” event, sharing FoBB’s mission of shellfish conservation & restoration with residents. During the event, FoBB discovered two Longwood High School environmental science students, Sophia & Emily, who became FoBB interns this summer. Approximately 80 people were in attendance.
May
May 30th: Longwood Public Library Program - On May 30th, FoBB Educators Maria & PJ gave a brief presentation to young patrons of the Longwood Public Library in Middle Island, NY. Children ages 6-11 learned about the importance of oysters in our bays & got an up-close look at some of our native marine species in several touch tanks. In total, 10 children participated in this event.
June
June 21st: Adult Seine Program w/ Brookhaven Free Library at Mother’s Beach - On June 21st, FoBB educators Maria, PJ & Nikolle hosted a seine netting workshop for the adult patrons of the Brookhaven Free Library. Alongside finding native species, over 30 polluting golf balls were removed from the beach. 6 patrons were in attendance.
July
July 19th: FoBB/ Bellport Brookhaven Historical Society children's event at Mothers Beach - On July 19th, 9 children & their families learned about the importance of oysters & FoBB’s mission to restore these organisms to our Bay. Afterwards, the young environmentalists netted for marine species & discovered the diversity of animals & plants that call Bellport Bay home.
July 26th: Bellport Day - On July 26th, the FoBB team shared literature & information about FoBB with Bellport community members & the broader Suffolk County area. Merchandise was sold to raise funds for our mission.
July 26th: Bellport Village Program Fund “Family Night” - FoBB collaborated with Bellport Village Program Fund for “Family Night”, hosted on Mother’s Beach. FoBB educators Maria & PJ gave attendees a brief presentation on how to use seine nets to capture, identify & release marine organisms. Concluding the day, attendees planted 15,000 juvenile clams into Bellport Bay. Approximately 100 people attended the event.
August
August 14th: Brookhaven Free Library “Home for a Hermit Crab” - FoBB Education Director Maria Slavnova was invited to give a brief presentation about our native shelled friends & lead a touch-tank experience for the young patrons of the Brookhaven Free Library. About 20 children & adults were in attendance.
Friends of Bellport Bay (FoBB), Center of Environmental Education & Discovery (CEED), and the Bellport Boy’s & Girl’s Club (BBGC) - Marine Science Adventure Camp - FoBB partnered with CEED & BBGC to offer two weeks of marine science programming with an emphasis on local ecology & conservation. With funding graciously provided by the David M. Duffy Jr. Foundation, we were able to offer underserved students an opportunity to make their mark on the future health of our Bay.
During the first week, our FoBB campers took a tour of Bellport Bay & our various projects. With the help of FoBB Co-Founder Katia Read & board member Rae Specht, campers created “reef balls”, which serve as an ideal substrate for oyster recruitment. Concluding the week, campers went to Mother’s Beach to catch & identify native marine species.
During the second week, students brainstormed, designed & assembled research posters about their chosen local marine science topic. Campers learned how to identify reliable scientific sources & compile information to create educational, creative & appealing posters. These posters were later displayed during the student showcase at the Bellport Boys’ & Girls’ Club.
October
October 10th: Centereach High School Environmental Science Class Presentation - On October 10th, FoBB Education Director Maria Slavnova was invited to Centereach High School to speak about FoBB’s mission to restore oysters to the Great South Bay. This environmental science class will raise its own oysters early next year as part of their water filtration curriculum. 17 students were in attendance.
Thank You!
Thank you for making our mission possible. To our donors, supporters, partners, and neighbors who enable FoBB to continue restoring the health of Bellport Bay for generations to come, one oyster at a time.