Town of North Hempstead Council Member Mariann Dalimonte was proud to join with the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor to learn how to build oyster gardening cages.

This initiative is aimed at revitalizing and restoring shellfish populations in the region. In August 2022, the town launched a pilot program to add one million oysters to Manhasset Bay to help improve water quality and clarity.

More recently, at the March 2023 Town Board meeting, Dalimonte put forth a resolution that would add oyster garden cages in North Hempstead Beach Park.

Dalimonte and Council Member Veronica Lurvey along with the Town’s Bay Constable Mal Nathan joined with Martha Braun, project manager of the Oyster Gardening and Restoration at the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, to learn more about oyster gardening cages including how to build them.

Over the course of the summer, they will be volunteering time to build them. These cages will foster a good environment for oyster populations to thrive, thus helping improve the water quality, ecosystem health, and biodiversity in the Town’s waterways.

“We are excited to partner with the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor to build oyster cages and work toward the restoration and preservation of Manhasset Bay,” said Dalimonte. “I want to thank Martha Braun from the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor and our Bay Constable Mal Nathan for their dedication and help to get this project started. These cages will help oysters grow and thrive faster than they would on the bottom of the bay. This allows them to do a better job in protect our water.”

Oysters play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems. They can naturally filter and purify the water by consuming algae and other pollutants. The Town hopes to eventually add oyster cages to Manhasset Bay.