South Fork Sea Farmers, a non profit dedicated to the health of marine environment, announced recently that a new reef will be started in the waters of Accabonac Harbor off Landing Lane.
This reef will provide a home to seeded oysters which will promote the health of local waters. “The Town of East Hampton has provided opportunities for local volunteer students to create this reef as an educational project.” said John Barley Dunne, Director of the East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery for The Town of East Hampton and Bob Tymann, a board member of South Fork Sea Farmers.
Each oyster filters 50 gallons of water each day helping to keep the marine environment healthy and thriving. By building this reef, the volunteer high school and 6th grade students can become stewards of the marine environment – and monitor the progress of the reef.
South Fork Sea Farmers donated the bio-degradable bags, purchased from the Netherlands, that provide the foundation of the new reef. The bags are filled with used oyster shells thus repurposing what would otherwise be trash.
Started in 2019, South Fork Sea Farmers’ mission is to educate and raise awareness of the importance of sustainable marine aquaculture and to inspire constructive action programs. The goal is to promote and encourage more public oyster gardening, and other sea farming, which keeps waters clean, provides habitat for marine life, and improves the overall ecosystem.