How can fixing damaged ecosystems help keep people safe from extreme weather?

Billion Oyster Project

Murray Fisher and Pete Malinowski

Brooklyn, NY

2014 - Present

In the past, massive oyster reef systems protected New York Harbor from storm damage by softening the blow of large waves, reducing flooding, and preventing erosion.

In contemporary times, the oyster reefs have dwindled, so that when Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012, water flooded New York City neighborhoods, streets, apartment buildings, and subway tunnels.

The Billion Oyster Project is restoring oyster reefs to protect the city. Volunteers and students assist with the effort by building reef structures, preparing shells for the hatchery, sorting and counting baby oysters, and more.

Restoring oyster reefs to the harbor increases New York City’s resilience and cleans the water. The reefs soften the blow of large waves to reduce flooding and prevent shoreline erosion. They also provide habitats for other species and filter the harbor’s water.

WEBSITES
Billion Oyster Project: www.billionoysterproject.org
BOOKS
Drew Smith, "Oyster: A Gastronomic History (with Recipes)," Basic Books, 2015
While it focuses on the culinary aspect of oysters, this book also touches on their ecological importance and history. It offers insights into the cultural and environmental significance of oysters.
FILMS
"The Oyster Farmers,” Directed by Corinne G. Ruff, 2017.
This documentary film explores the efforts of oyster farmers in New Jersey and the ecological benefits of oyster farming for the Barnegat Bay ecosystem.
VIDEOS
Kate Orff, "How Oysters Can Save New York Harbor,” TED, 2011.
This TED Talk discusses the ecological importance of oysters and their potential for cleaning urban waters.
PBS, “How Oyster Beds Can Rebuild New York Harbor,” 2023.
New York Harbor was a haven of incredible underwater biodiversity—until centuries of pollution turned it into a cesspool. Today, an alliance of architects, restaurateurs, scientists, and high school students is working to restore the harbor and protect the city from climate change. At the heart of the effort is a tiny creature with an outsized talent for cleanup: the extraordinary oyster.