Program Overview

The Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program was created in 2012 in response to deteriorating conditions Shinnecock Bay. Professors at Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) founded the program to restore the bay to its former health. Our goal is to increase filtration capacity in the bay, which helps reduce the impact of excess nitrogen and keep harmful algae in check.

Our scientists have long documented declining water quality and occurrences of "harmful algal blooms" such as brown, red, and rust tides in Shinnecock Bay. At the same time, there are less and less shellfish to filter the water. Poor water quality conditions are harmful to eelgrass habitat and the fish and invertebrate populations that live in the bay.

While Stony Brook's Center for Clean Water Technology tries to tackle the nitrogen pollution problem coming from land, our "in-the-water" solution aims to Turn Brown Tide Blue by increasing the natural filtration capacity of the bay. We are doing this by planting millions of adult hard clams and building new oyster reefs. We are also seeding new eelgrass beds and experimenting with how macroalgae harvesting can reduce nitrogen levels in the water.

[ More ]

 

SoMAS at Stony Brook University

Institute for Ocean Conservation Science

News & Events

bay_shinecockAugust 2022After ten years of restoration, ShiRP study results have been published in the international journal Frontiers in Marine Science
[More]

bay_shinecockJune 2022Shinnecock Bay Recognized as A New Global "Hope Spot"
[More]

bay_shinecockOct 2021Important Milestone Reached in Shinnecock Bay
[More]

Restoring Shinnecock BayMay 2021SBU Scientists Take a Multi-Faceted Approach to Restoring Shinnecock Bay
[More]

Oyster FarmerMay 9, 2021A new 'set it-and-forget it' crop may help LI's aqua farmers — and its bays, too
[More]

Sara Cernadas-Martín with the research vessel Seawolf behind her.May 7, 2021Cernadas-Martín Is a Champion for Marine and Human Diversity
[More]

Stephen Tomasetti at the Marine Sciences Center at Stony Brook Southampton.March 23, 2021Doctoral Student Working to Restore Shellfish Population
[More]

Suffolk septicSeptember 2, 2020Suffolk lawmakers set to vote on requiring advanced septic systems for new construction
[More]

State of the BaysMay 28, 2020Dr. Gobler's annual State of the Bays
[More]

Research Fisheries at RiskApril 23, 2020Researchers: Dissolved Oxygen and pH Policy Leave Fisheries at Risk
[More]

Eelgrass restorationJune 22, 2019Annual Eelgrass Restoration Event
[More]

Sugar kelpApr 30, 2019Stony Brook researchers hope sugar kelp turns into next specialty crop
[More]

State of the Bays 2019Apr 5, 2019"State of the Bays Symposium and Seminar"
[More]

blue crabDec 16, 2018Study: Blue crab larvae harmed by low oxygen, high acidity
[More]

Elaine PikitchDec 10, 2018Endowed Professorship Boosts SBU's Conservation Leadership
[More]

Riverhead LocalJune 1, 2018Riverhead brewery pledges 1 percent of sales to support the environment [More]


All News and Events

BRUV Highlights 2019

Problems with video? Visit vimeo.com.


NEWSLETTER