The East Hampton Trustees enthusiastically approved a proposal by the South Fork Sea Farmers to construct a fourth oyster reef in waters under their jurisdiction, and the first to be situated in Three Mile Harbor.
Jocelyn Garcia, an East Hampton High School junior and intern with the not-for-profit South Fork Sea Farmers, told the trustees on Monday that she and Nick Cooper, another student and intern who could not attend the meeting, have been working closely with the town’s Aquaculture Department to nurture oyster spat for the reefs, two of which have been constructed in Accabonac Harbor. A third is to be constructed there in June.
Filter-feeding oysters are able to create strong reef communities and can mitigate eutrophication and harmful algal blooms by eliminating excess nutrients from the water, Jocelyn told the trustees. “They also provide food, habitat, and protection for the marine organisms in our local waters,” she said.
The sea farmers collect empty shells from restaurants “thanks to Mickey’s Carting,” she said, which transports shells to them at no cost. The reefs are constructed with biodegradable cellulose bags tied together with hemp twine, a bottom layer of “blank” shell supporting a layer above comprising a mixture of shell and oyster spat. Reefs are situated based on water flow and a solid bottom, she said.
The fourth reef, to be constructed next year pending approval by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, will be located near the boat ramp between East Hampton Marina and Three Mile Harbor Marina. “We went around the whole perimeter of [Three Mile Harbor] and we found that that specific location was the strongest and most suitable to create our next oyster reef,” Jocelyn said. “The location will be easily accessible for construction and monitoring as well as possible field trips by East End schools.”
“The water’s very shallow over there,” said Bill Taylor. “There’s not going to be any impact on boating.” Both marinas, and Paddle Diva, which also uses the area, have issued a letter of support, which will accompany the sea farmers’ application to the D.E.C., Jocelyn said.
She showed pictures of an apparent natural set of oyster spat on a constructed reef. “It’s great to see that you’re getting natural set on your reefs in Accabonac,” said John Aldred, who asked if the reefs are maintaining their structure as the bags degrade. Yes, was the answer, “they’re already beginning to grow into each other as a cohesive structure.”
“So the live oysters are maintaining the structure,” Mr. Aldred said. “Good.”