$10 Million From NYS Builds Islip's New Shellfish Hatchery

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — The Town of Islip received $10 million from New York State to fund a new shellfish hatchery, officials announced on Wednesday.

Islip aims to increase shellfish production from the current hatchery’s output of around 20 to 40 million clams and oysters to 100-200 million, and around 500 million oyster larvae and shell oysters annually from the new Regional Shellfish Hatchery, the town said in a press release.

The goal is to meet regional demand, as 39 percent of oyster seed used by New York oyster farmers in 2023 was purchased from New England hatcheries.

“We are preserving Long Island’s rich maritime history while it faces various threats, from historic overfishing to climate change,” said Governor Kathy Hochul, who presented Islip officials with a $10 million check. “These key investments will support the shellfish industry on Long Island, an important aspect to the region’s economy and water quality.”

Officials said its current “rapidly aging” hatchery is one the “few” New York shellfish hatcheries where local shellfish farmers can purchase seed to stock their farms.

Neighboring towns are some of the customers Islip's new hatchery will supply.

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said the new hatchery will help Oyster Bay “achieve its goal of seeding local waterways with 20 million baby oysters and clams a year.”

Meanwhile, Smithtown Supervisor Edward Wehrheim said his district is a "loyal customer" of Islip’s current hatchery, having purchased 750,000 hard clam spat and around 100,000 oysters so far this year.

“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,” Islip Town Supervisor Carpenter. “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.”

According to the state, coastal flooding and climate change have hampered efforts to meet the ever-growing regional market demand. Oyster production in Islip’s waters from the town's bay bottom access program—which allows the public to lease space and cultivate shellfish on sections of the 1,500 town-owned bay bottom—has risen from 0 percent to 23 percent of the cultured oysters harvested in New York State over the last 15 years.

While shellfish are a delicious menu item and an important part of the local economy, oysters also play a pivotal role in environmental health and water quality.

A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day under optimal conditions, helping to mitigate and reduce harmful algal blooms and nutrients.