Program Overview

In response to deteriorating conditions in Shinnecock Bay on Long Island, the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) at Stony Brook University and its Institute for Ocean Conservation Science founded the Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program (ShiRP) to restore the health of this vital ecosystem. The goal of ShiRP is to use science, outreach, and partnerships to restore the water quality and fisheries of Shinnecock Bay.

Scientists and students are aiming to reduce the occurrence of harmful algal blooms and increase shellfish populations, ultimately to restore the nutrient balance and enrich the diversity of plants and animals living in the bay. By performing a baseline survey of the current state of the bay, and then working to replenish shellfish and eelgrass beds, the ShiRP team hopes to return Shinnecock Bay to a thriving estuarine environment.

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