The Town of Islip recently received $10 million for its Regional Shellfish Hatchery from the state. The establishment of the Regional Shellfish Hatchery will expand New York’s blue economy and address pressing environmental, economic and cultural challenges while fostering sustainable development and resiliency in the region.
“We are preserving Long Island’s rich maritime history while it faces various threats, from historic overfishing to climate change,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “These key investments will support the shellfish industry on Long Island, an important aspect to the region’s economy and water quality.”
The funding will help to build a new facility in the Town of Islip, which is rapidly aging and one of only a few in-state shellfish hatcheries where New York shellfish farmers can purchase juvenile shellfish, or seed, to stock their farms. Funding is provided from existing state capital funding sources.
The new facility will produce approximately 100-200 million single set juvenile oysters and clams, and approximately 500 million oyster larvae and spat on shell oysters in support of local shellfish restoration efforts, which represents a significant increase from its current production of 20-40 million clams and oysters. This will help to meet the needs of the growing aquaculture industry, as 39 percent of New York’s oyster seed was purchased by oyster farmers from hatcheries in New England states in 2023.
DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “This significant investment will help grow the capacity of the town of Islip Regional Shellfish Hatchery. As coastal flooding and the impacts of climate change continue to impact the regional market, investments like this advance financial stability and economic growth for shellfish farming businesses on the Great South Bay and other marine waters on Long Island.”
“New York’s agricultural industry is incredibly diverse, spanning from land to sea. Reinvigorating New York’s aquaculture industry is just another piece in the larger puzzle of strengthening our vibrant local food system,” added New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. “This investment in the Regional Shellfish Hatchery on Long Island aligns with the Governor’s State of the State plans to launch New York’s Blue Food Transformation initiative, which will provide a boost to marine agriculture, promote a healthy natural environment, and provide New Yorkers with a nutritious source of locally grown seafood.”
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said the money will help the county “continue to bolster this incredibly important initiative which helps support our economy, supports our fishing community, and preserves a way of life that personifies the history of Suffolk County. We thank the Governor for supporting this program.”
Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter added, “We are grateful to Governor Hochul for providing the necessary resources to move this vital project forward. A new Long Island regional facility will be a great addition to ‘Sustain a Bay,’ and an asset to all of the towns on Long Island currently expanding their programs. Demand from other Towns has outpaced the supply, and this new facility will enable the Town of Islip to accommodate the region’s growth. This will benefit not only marine life but also industries such as tourism and recreation that rely on healthy ecosystems.”
“The establishment of a Regional Shellfish Hatchery will help meet the needs of our growing aquaculture community while promoting economic growth,” added Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer. This is a win for Long Island!”
Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard said, “The Governor’s support of The Town of Islip’s Regional Shellfish Hatchery is a tremendous boost to the local baymen and shellfish economy. Long Island has been known as a top shellfish producer for decades. I know I might be biased, but I believe Long Island Oysters might be some of the best oysters in the world.”
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said, “Aquaculture is a vital part of our local economy and history,” said Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “We have been placing millions of baby shellfish into Oyster Bay Harbor and south shore waters, and this investment in a regional shellfish hatchery will help the Town of Oyster Bay achieve its goal of seeding local waterways with 20 million baby oysters and clams a year while improving water quality and the marine environment.”
Town of Smithtown Supervisor Edward Wehrheim said, “Shellfish are mother nature’s little but mighty water filters and a vital part of the local economy, fueling commerce in the shellfishing and hospitality industries, all while working to clean our waterways. This is a fantastic investment; one that I could not be happier to bear witness to, as our neighbors in Islip receive this grant thanks to Governor Hochul’s investment in Long Island’s economy. The Town of Smithtown is a loyal customer of the Islip Regional Shellfish Hatchery. We’ve purchased 750,000 hard clam spat and roughly 100,000 oysters in 2024 to date, which is an increase from last year’s shellfish program. This is just one small example of how this investment will grow and benefit resiliency in the region. I look forward to the successful expansion effort.”
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Daniel Panico said, “On Long Island, our economy and environment will forever be joined together,” Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico said. “I applaud this investment by the Governor to support the shellfish industry and cleaner waters. We take great pride in the maintenance of the health and improvement of our coastal waters, recognizing our role as stewards for future generations.”
Coastal flooding and the impacts of climate change have hampered efforts to keep pace with the growing regional market demand. Oysters have an important environmental role and biofiltration by shellfish may help to mitigate and reduce harmful algal blooms and nutrients, which improves water quality. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day under optimal environmental conditions. Oyster production in Islip’s waters from the town’s bay bottom access program has risen from 0 percent to 23 percent of the cultured oysters harvested in New York State over the last 15 years.
The Town of Islip’s Bay Management Program & Shellfish Hatchery also plays a vital role in educating the public, researching innovations in aquaculture, and meeting the needs of the marine community of Long Island and ensures the continuation of the maritime tradition of shellfish farming on the Great South Bay and other marine waters on Long Island.
As part of New York’s Blue Food Transformation, the FY25 budget also includes $5 million in capital funding for farmers to invest in marine dock space, processing equipment and other vital infrastructure for the growth of their businesses. This grant program will be administered by the Peconic Land Trust.